You’ve probably seen the grainy footage of people crawling through piles of human bones. It’s claustrophobic. It’s dirty. Honestly, it’s one of those movies that makes you want to take a shower immediately after the credits roll. Released in 2014, As Above, So Below—or así como en la tierra en el infierno, as it’s known to Spanish-speaking audiences—basically reinvented how we look at the Parisian underground. It wasn't just another jump-scan flick. It actually tried to do something smart with alchemy and Dante’s Inferno.
Most found-footage movies are trash. Let’s be real. They usually involve teenagers screaming in the woods for 90 minutes while a shaky camera captures nothing but blurry trees. But this one? It felt different. It felt like an urban legend you’d hear at 3:00 AM.
Directed by John Erick Dowdle, the film follows Scarlett Marlowe, an alchemy scholar obsessed with finding the Philosopher's Stone. You know, the stuff Nicholas Flamel was supposedly into. She drags a crew into the off-limits sections of the Paris Catacombs. What starts as a treasure hunt quickly turns into a literal descent into hell.
The Alchemy Behind Así como en la tierra en el infierno
The title isn't just a spooky phrase. It’s actually a core tenet of Hermeticism. "As above, so below" comes from the Emerald Tablet. It suggests that what happens on a cosmic level is reflected on a personal, physical level. In the movie, this translates to the characters’ sins and traumas manifesting as they go deeper underground.
Scarlett is driven by her father's suicide. George is haunted by his brother’s drowning. Benji is terrified of... well, mostly just being stuck in a hole.
The film uses the environment to mess with your head. As they move deeper, the physical world stops making sense. They climb down a hole only to end up back where they started, but everything is mirrored. This is where the title así como en la tierra en el infierno hits hardest. The "hell" they find isn't just a place with fire and pitchforks. It’s a psychological reflection of their own guilt.
Why the Paris Catacombs Are the Perfect Setting
Paris is beautiful. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the croissants. But underneath all that are the remains of over six million people.
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The Catacombs are a real place. You can actually visit the "official" part, which is spooky enough. However, the movie focuses on the cataphiles—the people who illegally explore the thousands of miles of unmapped tunnels. This is where the movie gets its grit. The production actually got permission to film in the real Catacombs, which is kind of insane when you think about the logistics.
The Realism Factor
Because they filmed in tight, cramped spaces, the actors' reactions feel genuine. That panic? Probably not all acting. There’s a scene where Benji gets stuck in a narrow crawlway filled with bones. If you have even a hint of claustrophobia, that scene is a nightmare.
The filmmakers didn't use many digital effects for the environments. They relied on the natural, oppressive atmosphere of the tunnels. This grounded reality makes the supernatural shifts later in the film much more jarring. One minute you’re looking at a rusted 1970s car inside a tunnel where it shouldn’t exist, and the next, you're being hunted by stone statues.
Breaking Down the Dante Connections
If you’ve ever read The Divine Comedy, you’ll notice the movie is basically a speedrun of Dante’s Inferno.
The entrance to the deeper tunnels has an inscription: "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." Subtle, right? But it works. The crew passes through different "levels" that correspond to their past mistakes.
- The Entryway: The realization that there is no turning back.
- The Mirroring: The transition from the physical world to the spiritual/hellish one.
- The Confrontation: Having to face the "demons" of their past to survive.
Scarlett has to realize that the Philosopher's Stone isn't a physical object she can hold. It’s her. Or rather, the power is within her once she accepts the truth about her father. It’s a bit "the real treasure was the friends we made along the way," but much darker and with more blood.
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Is It Actually Based on a True Story?
Sorta. But not really.
The character of Nicholas Flamel was a real person. He was a French scribe in the 14th century. After his death, a legend grew that he had discovered the Philosopher's Stone and achieved immortality. People have been looking for his "secret workshop" for centuries.
There are also countless stories of people getting lost in the Paris Catacombs. In 2004, police discovered a fully equipped cinema and bar in an uncharted cavern. There are real cults, real parties, and real disappearances down there. Así como en la tierra en el infierno taps into that very real fear of the unknown lurking right beneath a modern city's feet.
Why Critics Hated It but Fans Loved It
When the movie came out, critics were tired of found footage. They called it "unoriginal" or "confusing." But over the years, it has gained a massive cult following.
Why? Because it’s dense. You can watch it three times and still find new symbols hidden in the background. The sound design is also incredible. The whispers, the distant bells, the sound of water dripping—it all creates a sensory experience that most horror movies miss.
It also avoids the "stupid character" trope for the most part. Scarlett is incredibly capable. She speaks multiple languages, understands complex chemistry, and doesn't fall apart when things go sideways. Having a smart protagonist makes the horror feel more earned. If she can't figure a way out, you know the situation is truly dire.
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Common Misconceptions About the Ending
People often argue about whether they actually escaped.
The ending shows Scarlett, George, and Zed crawling out of a manhole and standing on a Parisian street. But the shot is flipped. Some fans think this means they are still in the "mirrored" world or that they actually died and this is their version of peace.
However, looking at the alchemical themes of the movie, the flip likely represents their transformation. They went in as broken, guilt-ridden people and came out "refined." In alchemy, the goal is to turn "lead" (the soul) into "gold" (enlightenment). By facing their hell, they effectively cleaned their slates.
Actionable Insights for Horror Fans
If you're planning on re-watching así como en la tierra en el infierno, or if you're a filmmaker looking to capture that same vibe, keep these points in mind:
- Look at the background. Many of the "ghosts" and creatures are visible in the shadows long before the characters notice them.
- Research the Emerald Tablet. Understanding the actual text of "As Above, So Below" makes the movie's logic much clearer.
- Audio is key. Wear headphones. The directional audio used in the tunnel scenes is specifically designed to make you feel like things are moving behind you.
- Check out cataphile culture. Reading about the real people who spend their weekends under Paris adds a layer of reality to the movie that makes it much scarier.
The movie works because it acknowledges that the scariest things aren't monsters under the bed. They’re the things we carry with us. The regrets we haven't processed and the secrets we keep hidden. As long as we have those, the concept of así como en la tierra en el infierno will always be relevant.
To get the most out of your next viewing, pay close attention to the transition points. Notice how the lighting shifts from natural headlamps to a more ethereal, reddish hue as they descend. Also, track the physical items—like the camera or the bags—to see how they "change" once they cross the threshold. This level of detail is what separates a generic horror movie from a lasting piece of genre cinema.
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