Bursting with tales of losing control and challenging reality, all entwined with a hint of familial trauma and ladened with a haunting gothic aesthetic that bodes stunning imagery and a grippingly tense atmosphere is Sophie Osbourne’s The Monster Beneath Us. 

Yorkshire, England, 1898, sees Lord James Abbington (Jack Forsyth-Noble) of Doloridge House turn a gun onto himself, leaving his wife Grace (Becca Hirani) and their son Charles (Marshall Hawkes) to leave the bustling city of London and return to the quiet countryside to settle affairs. However, they soon realise that they are not alone inside the grandiose manor as Charles develops a strange bond with a mysterious entity below the house. 

Writer and director Sophie Osbourne shows no qualms in creating valiant horror that shies away from the bold and sharp barbaricness of slashers and body horror. Alternatively, the film opts for a tremendously eerie slow-burn aura that creeps up on the viewer one haunting moment after the other before completely enveloping you into the maddeningly nightmarish world that is meticulously crafted throughout this British horror. The Monster Beneath Us’ cunning ability to rouse great terror inch by inch is a testament to the film’s sundry charms, from the evocative performances and the thoughtful milieu of designs that echo the time period all the way through to the atmospheric soundscape that conspires with the harrowingly toned cinematography. Take the first act as an example; at this point, whilst we expect malevolence and understand the ominous threat of the situation, Osbourne ensures that we are not entirely privy to the full extent of the torment just yet – essentially, the film knowingly hoodwinks us, throwing any chance of predictability far away. 

Simultaneously, as the intricate and complex story unravels, the screen brims with scenes lit with a glow reminiscient of the film’s 1800s zeitgeist, adding to the visually arresting gothic pathos that screams darkness, melancholy, romanticism, tragedy and a plethora of other fantastical elements that The Monster Beneath Us utilises. Further saturating the film with an air of suspense is the array of performances put on display, namely lead Grace Abbington, portrayed by the excellent Becca Hirani, who slips into the cleverly written role with commendable ease. 

Last but not least, in the long line of ovation is The Monster Beneath Us’ setting. It is no secret that British horror is remarkable, particularly when it comes to shadowy, macabre period pieces due to the naturally eerie forestry settings and longrunning folklore, with The Monster Beneath Us skillfully adopting this first element. Yorkshire is alive with countless landmarks, woodlands and, of course, ‘The Moors’, which in the light of genre cinema can provide atmospheric tones of gloominess, a cold, distinct dusk where expressive and powerful ghostliness can creep in. Consequently, the film that has an equal measure of the visual uncanny and a spectral uneasiness that is typically hard to capture on screen.

The Monster Beneath Us artfully moves the goalposts of what one is to expect when entering the world of a monstrous story. The result is a film that delves deep under the surface and extracts themes of grief, alienation and despair to conjure a narrative that is persistently vast and one that makes The Monster Beneath Us a horror that deserves a place on a watchlist.

You can catch the film Sunday 29th September at this years festival, tickets here!