As Above, So Below
As Above So Below is... well. My expectations going in were fairly low, but I was pleasantly surprised.
To preface this, I am not usually a fan of shakycam movies; I don't have a personal vendetta, they just make me nauseated. That said, As Above So Below didn't cause any issues for me, except in a few short sequences. I really appreciated the cinematography, and the fact that the majority of the movie was shot on location in the Paris catacombs. It lends an authentic sense of claustrophobia and danger. I also appreciated the practical effects - they hold up very well, unlike the few bits of extremely unfortunate CGI, which makes that all the more disappointing.
The jump scares were very effective, and the subtler scares even more so. I can still feel the chill of the slow turn of the cultist's head to stare directly into the camera. I do think a few of the spooky bits would have been more effective if they hadn't been explained through exposition alone, however. The ending wraps up almost too easily, but it's a breath of fresh air after an hour and a half in the claustrophobic crypts.
As Above So Below is a fine horror movie in its own right, just the perfect number of scares for an evening with friends and bowls of popcorn. Nothing too trippy, not a lot of thought needed, just a good fun batch of spooks.