A new hit survival thriller on Netflix serves as the perfect reminder to check out an underrated horror movie that was released a decade ago. Although Netflix has movie offerings from many genres, the streaming giant consistently releases new thrillers that keep audiences white-knuckled and at the edge of their seats. While some of these thrillers feature well-known names as their leads, almost guaranteeing their success, others have relatively lower budgets but compelling storylines.

Belonging to the latter category, a new Netflix survival thriller has risen in the ranks as one of the most popular horror films on the streamer in recent times. The film has not only been lauded by viewers and critics for its portrayal of eco-horror but has also gotten Stephen King’s stamp of approval. Interestingly, it also has one narrative element that seems reminiscent of another cult-favorite underrated horror movie.

Both Under Paris & As Above, So Below Draw A Terrifying Picture Of Paris’ Catacombs

While Under Paris Is Relatively More Realistic With Its Terrors, As Above, So Below Is More Supernatural

In the Netflix thriller Under Paris, Paris’ underground catacombs become the setting for a horrifying sequence. In this sequence, a group of humans gathers around a shark while an activist attempts to send it back to the ocean. However, things suddenly take a grim turn when the shark attacks the activist, and the humans in the congested underground ossuary panic. Even for a viewer, this scene effectively instills a sense of claustrophobia by portraying how the low ceilings and narrow alleyways of the catacomb make it impossible for many to escape on time, leading them to become prey for the shark.

The 2014 underrated horror movie As Above, So Below takes things up a notch with its depiction of Paris’ catacombs. Instead of purely riffing on real-world terrors, the film inclines more towards fantasy by reimagining the catacombs as a doorway to hell. It follows a team of explorers who venture deep into the dark Paris ossuaries only to find themselves encountering unimaginable terrors as they descend deeper and unlock new circles of hell. Throughout its runtime, As Above, So Below also features scenes where characters barely crawl through narrow tunnels, with their fear palpable as the walls gradually close in.

The Dark History Behind Paris’ Catacombs Explained

The Catacombs Accommodate The Remains Of Over Six Million People

The origins of the catacombs in Paris can be traced back to the 18th century when the city was quickly growing, which, in turn, also increased deaths. Soon, local cemeteries and graveyards were overflowing, leading to sanitary issues across the French capital. To solve this issue, the city’s authorities turned to Tombe-Issoire quarries, which were built during Roman times but used as the new resting ground for the city’s dead bodies. When the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution led to even more deaths, bodies were directly taken to the catacombs, earning them a new name: The Empire of the Dead.

Although the underground tunnels spread over 150 miles below Paris, only a section of the area is open for visitors and curious travelers. While only one person is known to have died inside the catacombs, there are many terrifying myths and legends surrounding the subterranean labyrinth. For instance, many have reported seeing ghostly apparitions and even hearing spooky noises during their visits to the tunnels. Some have claimed to have witnessed strange orbs of lights and being touched during their visit, adding to the location’s eerie atmosphere and making it the perfect setting for a horror movie.

Which Movie’s Portrayal Of The Catacombs Is More Terrifying?

The Catacombs Are Active Participants In As Above, So Below’s Story

While Under Paris is scary in its own right, it does not directly use the catacombs as a narrative device for its terrors. It only highlights how the Paris location initially becomes the backdrop for several individuals’ grave encounters with a vicious shark and later the home for the central shark’s massive nest. While the claustrophobic and labyrinthine nature of the catacombs enhances the sense of helplessness felt by the characters, the film’s primary terrors come from the shark attacks.

As Above, So Below, in contrast, directly uses the catacombs as a narrative device to drive its occult horror narrative. It also adopts a found footage filming style, immersing viewers in the disorienting experiences of its central characters as they delve deeper into the harrowing tunnels. Not to mention, Netflix‘s Under Paris only gives a glimpse of what lies in the catacombs, but As Above, So Below features explicit scenes where audiences can spot the remains of the dead buried in the ossuaries.