What Waits Below is a 1984 adventure/science fiction/horror film directed by Don Sharp. The movie is also known under the title Secrets of the Phantom Caverns. The movie tagline was “Underground, no-one can hear you die”. It intertwines elements of military adventure with subterranean science fiction, resulting in a unique but often overlooked piece of 1980s cinema. The story follows Major Elwood, played by Robert Powell, who leads a team on a mission to locate a secret military transmitter deep within a cave system in Central America.
Their task takes an unexpected turn when they encounter an ancient subterranean civilization known as the Skaarab. The Skaarab, who have been living undisturbed for centuries, see the intruders as a threat.
Tensions escalate as the explorers struggle to navigate the labyrinthine caves, deal with the mysterious and hostile inhabitants, and face various natural dangers within the underground world. Don Sharp, an experienced director known for his work in horror and action films including Kiss of the Vampire (1963),
the Mad Monk (1966), The Face of Fu Manchu 1965), and The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966), helmed What Waits Below. His direction helped in creating an atmosphere of tension and mystery suitable for a subterranean adventure.
Cast
- Powell, Robert – Rupert ‘Wolf’ Wolfsen (born June 1, 1944) Robbery, The Italian Job (1969), Asylum, The Asphyx, Tommy, Beyond Good and Evil, The Jigsaw Man, What Waits Below, TV episodes of Jude the Obscure, Jesus of Nazareth, Shaka Zulu, Hannay, Merlin of the Crystal Cave, The Detectives, Fantomcat
- Bottoms, Timothy – Major Elbert Stevens (born August 30, 1951) The Paper Chase, Johnny Got His Gun, Rollercoaster, The Last Picture Show, The Man in the Iron Mask, The Land That Time Forgot, What Waits Below, TV episodes of Land of the Lost, That ’70s Show, Grey’s Anatomy, Invaders From Mars (1986)
- Blount, Lisa – Leslie Peterson (July 1, 1957 – October 27, 2010) September 30, 1955, The Swap, Dead & Buried, An Officer and a Gentleman, What Waits Below, Prince of Darkness, Great Balls of Fire!, TV episodes of The Gong Show, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Moonlighting, Starman, Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, Picket Fences, Profit, Judging Amy
- Johnson, Richard – Ben Gannon (July 30, 1927 – June 5, 2015) Lady in the Fog, Never So Few, The Haunting, The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Zombi 2, The Monster Club, What Waits Below, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, TV episodes of Pride and Prejudice, Space: 1999, Hart to Hart, Tales of the Unexpected, Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, Doc Martin, The Robinsons
- Heywood, Anne – Frieda Shelley (December 11, 1931 – October 27, 2023) Lady Godiva Rides Again, Checkpoint, A Terrible Beauty, The Brain, What Waits Below
IMDb credits Robert D. Bailey and Sandy Howard as producers, with Don Levin and Mel Pearl as executive producers, and Jeffrey M. Sneller as an associate producer. Filming started August 1983. Principal photography for the film took place in a former limestone quarry and in natural caves. It was shot at Cumberland Caverns, TN for about two weeks, then another two weeks were shot at Cathedral Caverns in Alabama.
Several days were spent filming at Fall Creek Falls, TN too. Production was briefly halted in late August when carbon monoxide produced by generators in the Cathedral Caverns, AL location sent at least 17 people, including director Don Sharp, to the hospital.
The movie was in Dolby Stereo, shot in color, 1.85 : 1, negative format 35 mm, and printed film format35 mm. The runtime is 1 hour and 28 minutes. The computer shown in use for the army’s transmitter was actually an 80s home computer, manufactured by Commodore. It’s either the C64 or VC20. They shared an almost identical casing design in the early 80s. The branding of the device used in the movie was taped over.
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Waits_Below
- IMDB – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088392/
- Rotten Tomatoes – https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/what_waits_below
