History YMMV / WhatLiesBeneath

* SpiritualAdaptation: The film feels like its the more faithful version of the 1977 novel ''Literature/TheShining'' than its infamous [[Film/TheShining 1980 film adaptation]], complete with Creator/MichellePfeffier as blonde hair, cute, attractive and beautiful Wendy unlike her Sherley Duvall's black hair and ugly 1980 film counterpart; in fact, Creator/StephenKing will like this after he [[DisownedAdaptation disowned]] with Creator/StanleyKubrick's 1980 film adaptation.

* SpiritualAdaptation: The film feels like its the more faithful version of the 1977 novel ''Literature/TheShining'' than its infamous [[Film/TheShining 1980 film adaptation]], complete with Creator/MichellePfeffer as blonde hair, cute, attractive and beautiful Wendy unlike her Sherley Duvall's black hair and ugly 1980 film counterpart; in fact, Creator/StephenKing will like this after he [[DisownedAdaptation disowned]] with his Creator/StanleyKubrick's 1980 film adaptation.

** In-universe. Norman's [[spoiler: remorse over his affair with Madison and her supposed suicide seems genuine enough to make you feel sorry for him. Until you learn that he murdered the poor girl and his "remorse" was either all an act or completely self-centered]]

* OlderThanYouThink: [[spoiler:While it is a surprise that Ford is the BigBad, this is not the first time he played a villain, having played ones such as ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and a VillainProtagonist in ''Film/TheMosquitoCoast'', in which Ford's character is also a DecoyProtagonist like Norman due to his actor's star power and notability for normally playing heroes. Also, Ford has been offered villain roles before even though he has been passed aside such as a CorruptCorporateExecutive in ''Film/SantaClausTheMovie'', the titular role as ''Film/TheTerminator'' and even being considered by Creator/StanleyKubrick for the role of Jack Torrance in ''Film/TheShining''.]]

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: A FreezeFrameBonus moment, but after Claire collapses on the floor after being drugged, the camera moves towards her and then pulls and impossible camera move and goes under her while looking up, and suddenly it appears that she is lying on a an invisible floor and with the camera gazing up at her through it.
* TheWoobie: Claire and Madison. Tough lives, made even worse by [[spoiler:Norman's involvement.]]
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** [[spoiler:Harrison Ford's character dies by drowning, while years later Ford's famous character Rick Deckard nearly suffered the same fate at the climax of ''Film/BladeRunner2049'' until Creator/RyanGosling swoops in and rescues him in time.]]

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: A BlinkAndYoullMissIt moment, but after Claire collapses on the floor after being drugged, the camera moves towards her and then pulls and impossible camera move and goes under her while looking up, and suddenly it appears that she is lying on a an invisible floor and with the camera gazing up at her through it.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Claire's home computer and cell phone are very clearly products of the [[TheNineties late-'90s]].

* OlderThanYouThink: [[spoiler:While it is a surprise that Ford is the BigBad, this is not the first time he played a villain, having played ones such as ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and a VillainProtagonist in ''Film/TheMosquitoCoast'', which Ford's character is also a DecoyProtagonist like Norman due to his actor's star power and notability for normally playing heroes. Also, Ford has been offered villain roles before even though he has been passed aside such as a CorruptCorporateExecutive in ''Film/SantaClausTheMovie'', the titular role as ''Film/TheTerminator'' and even being considered by Creator/StanleyKubrick for the role of Jack Torrance in ''Film/TheShining''.]]

%%* ParanoiaFuel

* TheWoobie: Claire and Madison. Tough lives, made even worse by [[spoiler:Norman's involvement.]]

* OlderThanYouThink: [[spoiler:While it is a surprise that Ford is the BigBad, this is not the first time he played a villain, having played ones such as ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and a VillainProtagonist in ''Film/TheMosquitoCoast'', which Ford's character is also a DecoyProtagonist like Norman due to his actor's star power and notability for normally playing heroes. Also, Ford has been offered villain roles before even though he has been passed aside such as a CorruptCorporateExecutive in ''Film/SantaClausTheMovie'' and the titular role as ''Film/TheTerminator''.]]

* HeReallyCanAct: Many people who grew up watching Creator/HarrisonFord [[Franchise/StarWars play]] [[Franchise/IndianaJones a]] [[Film/BladeRunner hero]] [[Film/TheFugitive in]] [[Film/PatriotGames so]] [[Film/AirForceOne many]] [[Film/CowboysAndAliens movies]] are actually shocked that not only is he [[spoiler: the killer]], but he plays it just as naturally as he plays his heroes.

* OlderThanYouThink: [[spoiler:While it is a surprise that Ford is the BigBad, this is not the time he played a villain, having played ones such as ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' and a VillainProtagonist in ''Film/TheMosquitoCoast'', which Ford's character is also a DecoyProtagonist like Norman due to his actor's star power and notability for normally playing heroes. Also, Ford has been offered villain roles before even though he has been passed aside such as a CorruptCorporateExecutive in ''Film/SantaClausTheMovie'' and the titular role as ''Film/TheTerminator''.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: In-universe. Norman's [[spoiler: remorse over his affair with Madison and her supposed suicide seems genuine enough to make you feel sorry for him. Until you learn that he murdered the poor girl and his "remorse" was either all an act or completely self-centered]]

* HarsherInHindsight: In-universe. Norman's [[spoiler; remorse over his affair with Madison and her supposed suicide seems genuine enough to make you feel sorry for him. Until you learn that he murdered the poor girl and his "remorse" was either all an act or completely self-centered]]

* HarsherInHindsight: In-universe. Norman's [[remorse over his affair with Madison and her supposed suicide seems genuine enough to make you feel sorry for him. Until you learn that he murdered the poor girl and his "remorse" was either all an act or completely self-centered]]

* HeReallyCanAct: Many people who grew up watching Creator/HarrisonFord [[Franchise/StarWars play]] [[Franchise/IndianaJones the hero]] [[Film/TheFugitive in so many movies]] are actually shocked that not only is he [[spoiler: the killer]], but he plays it just as naturally as he plays his heroes.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Mary Feur's [[TheImmodestOrgasm very, very loud sex noises]].

* HeReallyCanAct: Many people who grew up watching HarrisonFord [[StarWars play]] [[IndianaJones the hero]] [[TheFugitive in so many movies]] are actually shocked that not only is he [[spoiler: the killer]], but he plays it just as naturally as he plays his heroes.

* HeReallyCanAct: Many people who grew up watching HarrisonFord [[StarWars play]] [[IndianaJones the hero]] [[TheFugitive in so many movies]] are actually shocked that not only is he [[spoiler: the killer.]] but he plays it just as naturally as he plays the heros.

%%* NightmareFuel

%%* TheWoobie: Claire and Madison.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Mary Feur's [[TheImmodestOrgasm very, very loud sex noises]].--> '''Claire:''' What is he ''doing'' to her?* HeReallyCanAct: Many people who grew up watching HarrisonFord [[StarWars play]] [[IndianaJones the hero]] [[TheFugitive in so many movies]] are actually shocked that not only is he [[spoiler: the killer.]] but he plays it just as naturally as he plays the heros.%%* NightmareFuel%%* ParanoiaFuel%%* TheWoobie: Claire and Madison.

* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Mary Feur's [[TheImmodestOrgasm very, very loud sex noises]].
--> '''Claire:''' What is he ''doing'' to her?
* HeReallyCanAct: Many people who grew up watching HarrisonFord [[StarWars play]] [[IndianaJones the hero]] [[TheFugitive in so many movies]] are actually shocked that not only is he [[spoiler: the killer.]] but he plays it just as naturally as he plays the heros.
* NightmareFuel
* ParanoiaFuel
* TheWoobie: Claire and Madison.

* CompleteMonster: [[spoiler:Norman.]]

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel

* TheWoobie: Claire.