Claire and Norman Spencer’s relationship begins to unravel when Claire becomes convinced their house is haunted. The situation escalates as she believes the spirit is attempting to communicate something, something potentially very personal. Robert Zemeckis channeling Hitchcock? Certainly, the influence is apparent and openly acknowledged. However, having such a master as a measuring stick inevitably makes other contemporary efforts seem inadequate. Setting that significant problem aside, What Lies Beneath functions well as a suspenseful thriller with a strong cast. Zemeckis directed this film, which originated from an idea by Steven Spielberg (from the story by Sarah Kernochan), and features Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer portraying the Spencers’ disintegrating marriage. That's quite a lineup to get a movie off the ground with. What unfolds is a blend of genuine suspense and mystery, misleading clues, and predictable jump scares, all of which nearly gets overshadowed by a slow point in the middle where Zemeckis leans too heavily into the Hitchcock imitation and loses focus on the supernatural core of the story; not helped, I think, by Clark Gregg’s wandering screenplay. Still, the film recovers during the ending as suspenseful elements combine with thriller aspects to create some genuinely exciting moments. It's only then that you fully recognize the filmmakers tried to pack too much into one movie. In their desire to manipulate the audience for a satisfying conclusion (though you likely will figure it out around the midpoint), the film becomes unclear about its primary purpose. Pfeiffer is superb and looks beautiful, and Ford brings energy when the script permits. Diana Scarwid, Joe Morton, Miranda Otto, and James Remar provide support. The house itself creates an unsettling atmosphere with its lakeside location, and Alan Silvestri’s score complements the creepy aspects of the story. It's a decent film on its own merits, regardless of the nods to Hitchcock. It just had the potential to be a considerably better horror movie than it ultimately is. 7/10

Source on TMDB