BENEATH THE DARKNESS

Scooby-Doo, but serious and without Scooby

Dennis Quaid plays a creepy mortician in a central Texas town. A group of teens decide to trespass his abode for thrills and everything goes awry.

Quaid and cutie Aimee Teegarden head the cast, but it's Tony Oller who shines here as the troubled protagonist. He's reminiscent of Robby Benson.

As noted in my title blurb, the story is akin to a Scooby-Doo yarn, but realistic and without the dog. Although Quaid is over-the-top and somewhat campy as the villain the rest of the cast play it straight. I was surprised by the dramatic score and a few really touching scenes.

Some complain that the subplot of a dead sister and a ghost sighting goes nowhere, but it's there for a reason, just think about it.

Although there's some realistic cussing there's zero raunch.

I was pleasantly surprised by this little film. It's classy, sometimes moving, mysterious and thrilling.

The film runs 1 hour, 36 minutes, and shot in Bastrop & Smithville, Texas.

GRADE: B+/A-