BENEATH THE SURFACE OF "WHAT LIES BELOW" (SPOILER WARNING)

When first we meet mother-daughter pair Michelle and Liberty Wells, we can see something is immediately off about this mother. She's too chipper, acting like a teenager even though she's forty-two and her daughter is the teenager. Michelle is a woman who refuses to act her age. She is self-conscious and scared.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Liberty is the mature one: quiet, bookish, and responsible. This obvious role reversal is a subtle clue to something far more nefarious going on behind closed doors in this small family unit, and it has nothing to do with the young creeper Michelle brought home. His presence merely exacerbates an already festering problem between Michelle and Liberty. Michelle's behavior is the real problem here.

FoundFlix argues that the family drama is unnecessary to the overall plot of "What Lies Below" and it should have featured the lake monster more prominently. Perhaps. Except that "family drama" is more integrated into the horror of this film than some people realize. John Smith may be a literal monster, but Michelle is a monster too, subtle and real. Her type litters the world every day, and children like Liberty pay the price.

In light of this, we must ask ourselves what is John Smith's purpose in this film? Who's the villain and the hero in Liberty's story? That is an outcome this young woman spends the story attempting to find out.

Her name is Liberty because that is what she craves. She wants freedom from her mother. In her attempt to acquaint herself with her potential step-father, she reveals her dream school is to go to Cambridge in England where the archeology programs are the best in the world. Archeology is Liberty's greatest passion. It is her purpose. Her guidance counselor supports her desire to apply. Even John Smith is impressed and supportive. However, Liberty hesitates to share her plan with Michelle, because she fears the controlling woman's disapproval. Why? It's far away (across the ocean), and Michelle is too clingy to let her go. What kind of mother wouldn't support her daughter's purpose in life.

Michelle is also a recovering alcoholic, selfish, and neglectful. The worst of it is her lack of boundaries. The house legally belongs to Liberty, but Michelle makes decisions about the house against Liberty's best interests and wishes. The most glaring decision was the fact that she allowed a stranger to move in and take over her basement. The more the teen learns about John Smith, the more uncomfortable he makes her.

A loving mother would take that into account. Michelle does not, because she cares more about getting an attention fix from a hot, young guy than ensuring her child's safety. When Liberty tries to reason with her mother about his inappropriate conduct, Michelle doesn't believe her. In fact, she reveals that she never has or will validate her daughter's feelings about the strange men she brings home. Liberty bites back, and the selfish mother lashes out violently. Ultimate, undeniable abuse.

In her anger at her mother's ultimate, undeniable abuse, she reveals her mother's dishonesty, which drives away John Smith, and she dares to blame her daughter for her lie. No relationship can thrive on secrets and lies (at least that's what my therapist says). Michelle's life unravels as she loses control of John and her daughter.

In the end, John chooses Liberty over Michelle. He takes Liberty below the surface of her lake to his real home, leaving Michelle behind. Liberty becomes trapped underwater. Her dreams and ambitions shattered all for the sake of a man's desire for children. Somehow, she finds a reason to smile. Despite her new trap, she is at least free from her narcissistic mother. John Smith dodged that bullet as well, and it has nothing to do with Michelle's advanced age. She's controlling, narcissistic, and abusive. No man wants that. Not John. Not Liberty.

Who's the villain? Both John and Michelle. In an ideal world, Liberty would free herself, go to Cambridge, and thrive in the world as an archeologist. Instead, she is forced to chose between two evils. She trades one cage for another. That is no happy ending.