I went into this not really expecting much more than something super low budget. I was thinking it would be a 5 but it ended up being a 3. The acting was passable, with some actors doing better than others. The setting was small town woodsy, and it was obvious that they didn't spend a whole lot. Editing could have been a lot tighter. The story had me believing it was actually going to go somewhere, but it actually went nowhere. Not only did it go nowhere, it took forever not to get there. It's not just the story, it's the two leads. They had no chemistry and I didn't believe they'd had a past. Some things you do find out, but just because you know does not mean that there is any resolution. And that my friends is a nice way of saying the ending was terrible. I do not recommend this film.
22 Reviews
Below the expectations
dataentryjobgsm29 April 2021
When you watch Below the Fold, it looks like you are watching a good movie, but when you watch the end, it feels like something is wrong. The director doesn't know exactly what to show. The film could have been better than this. Bye the way, its ok for one time watching only.
PAYDAY
pjkblue-3592625 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I kept watching thinking that there would be a twist or something was going to raise the roof, but NOPE!
Nothing.
The cliche of going into the house to get the evidence, then get caught when the preacher returns was a really weak plotline.
At least everyone got paid for their efforts.
The atmosphere was grimy, low-class and small-town depressive, which did work.
Nothing.
The cliche of going into the house to get the evidence, then get caught when the preacher returns was a really weak plotline.
At least everyone got paid for their efforts.
The atmosphere was grimy, low-class and small-town depressive, which did work.
Midwestern murder mystery
urbanswami28 April 2021
That about sums it up. Now if you're like me and expect either some serious thriller vibes and action, or a portrayal of meticulous journalistic work bearing fruit, you'll be disappointed. If you expect a satisfying conclusion or an eerie mystery left unanswered, you'll be disappointed. This movie is slow, real slow and there's no tension in it whatsoever. To say that the end of the movie is anticlimactic is an understatement. I cannot in good conscience recommend it.
The tractor pull would have been more interesting
dainamariebradley15 August 2021
Very slow pace, and I wanted to literally pull or drag the actors away from scenes just to get on with it. Even a huge tractor couldn't have done that fast enough! I really disliked the cinematography, because it had a harsh, videotape feel, and that's how almost all the movies are now, unless they are big-budget films. I liked the story for the most part, even if it was like so many others, but honestly, even Lifetime movies are a step up from this one. I thought the character of "David" was portrayed competently enough, but "Lisa" made me feel like I was watching a high school play, and she was the understudy. These two had zero chemistry with each other or with me as a viewer, and I quickly ceased to care about them. I really wanted to turn this movie off, but I waited to see it through to the end, since I'd waded through it that far. I wish I would have trusted my gut and just turned it off.
This movie has 0 resolve.
swiss73122 August 2022
The ending is terrible and will make you hate this movie. I feel like I wasted 90 minutes of my life. You can't end a movie like that and expect people to love it. Don't ever do that again, please. I have to rate it 2 stars because of the ending. The acting was ok, it's an indie movie so I get it. But the ending ruined the entire film. I kind of liked the storyline until the end, so that's why I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1. But I would never watch it again nor would I recommend it to anyone.🤷
Waste of Time
elleemm11 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Story went nowhere. I kept watching, hoping for an answer to the mystery but it never came. Ending was lame. The relationship between the two main characters was never clarified. Very disappointing waste of my time. I'll know to check reviews before watching another Prime Video offering.
Ugh!
rockofcarol29 July 2022
I can't believe I even kept this movie on. I thought the acting was terrible. I'm getting so tired of all these stupid unexplained, or just plain stupid endings in movies. I think the Covid 19 has really messed up the movie endings. It's like ok let's just stop this movie. Anyway it sucks.
I'll cover the tractor pull
nogodnomasters13 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
David Freemont (Davis DeRock) is a reporter for a small town newspaper in Maryville, Missouri. His ex-girlfriend Lisa (Sarah McGuire) joins the staff. Together they go do a story on a cold case missing girl. They discover a web of deceit and this case was related to another homicide.
This was an interesting small town drama. The plot gives us several options, but your gut feeling works best.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
This was an interesting small town drama. The plot gives us several options, but your gut feeling works best.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
Don't bother to watch this
nancystohr17 August 2022
Worth a watch
alihood3 September 2022
There were some negative reviews on this movie, I often disregard such and see for myself, glad I did. Though it's true there was no actual conclusion to this move. I found it well scripted and acted. It portrays the small town mentality of a community that in all likelihood knows the guilty party, but is just more comfortable to keep your mouth shut. The ending leaves a strong impression that it's not over for the male investigator, he seems to be on the scent of more leads.it was an entertaining movie and viewers should form their own opinion. I was not familiar with the two main characters, but they both did great jobs.
Everyone is a critic nobody is a filmmaker
horterevil-2944718 February 2022
Don't understand why everyone is giving this movie bad reviews. It honestly has the twists and turns that a good mystery thriller is known for even though the ending can leave some wanting. This obviously isn't a major Hollywood motion picture. Your not going to find Oscar winning performances, great cinephotography, or amazing character growth. But what you will find is an interesting mystery about a towns almost forgotten tragedy.
Good Acting, But...
twelve-house-books16 July 2022
For an independent film, there's some good acting here, but the story ends abruptly and without any resolve, as if the writers and director had no idea how to complete a story. 3 stars for the acting, but it would be better to skip this one and watch The X-Files instead.
Someone forgot to write an ending.
gudgeonville30 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Talk about pulling the rug out from underneath you! When I say there was no ending I really mean it. It's like reading a murder mystery and someone just ripped out the last chapter. I mean I watched it because I thought it did have some possibility. It was slow, no doubt, but I don't mind a slow burner but this didn't just sizzle out, someone took a fire extinguisher to the ending. I don't need every movie to be full of well known stars and high action.. I grew up watching many very good "B" movies and as I was watching this I would have put it in that same category. If you don't need a conclusion, ANY conclusion, then this is for you.
deserves a negative rating
redinnevada3 September 2022
One of the worst acting jobs I've ever seen by the main actress. The rest of them were ok, passable, but the lead actress is not only just a scrawny beanpole of unattractivenes (not just physically, more attitude-wise) but her acting is like watching a stick make faces.
The story itself could've been better presented and it might have made a good lifetime tv movie but they simply did nothing with it. They laid NO groundwork to put context to the story, they didn't give us any background on any of the characters, main ones included that there's literally nothing to pull us into the story.
Waste of an hour and 32 minutes. Spend your time watching commercials...better acting and maybe get some value from them.
The story itself could've been better presented and it might have made a good lifetime tv movie but they simply did nothing with it. They laid NO groundwork to put context to the story, they didn't give us any background on any of the characters, main ones included that there's literally nothing to pull us into the story.
Waste of an hour and 32 minutes. Spend your time watching commercials...better acting and maybe get some value from them.
Boring and completely pointless.
teodoramonika8 February 2022
Appropriately rated amateur crime mystery
tvcarsd13 May 2021
Its one of those movies that you would have liked to watch it all but once it gets to about the 30min mark you just have to skip through to about 60 minutes just to see if anything has happened. Alas, nothing does. Watch this on at least x1.2. Just be ready to skip stuff often, basic self editing skills required.
Cold Case Drama is Bitter Cold
lavatch7 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It would be an understatement to suggest that this murder mystery was unsatisfying. Two top-notch newspaper reporters get deeper and deeper into a pair of cold cases only to have the plug pulled on them, not by their newspaper editor, but by their screenwriter!
David Fremont and Lisa Johnson are the two reporters for a small town paper whose stock in trade is the latest story on a local tractor pull. But David and Lisa tenaciously pursue a pair of ten-year-old murder cases in which two young women were brutally killed with no conclusive evidence about the killer.
The drama was moving along at a brisk pace with some excellent location footage and an effective period style of the late twentieth century. But the filmmakers curiously opted for an ambivalent ending that offered no effective conclusion to their film. For the film audience, this was not a case of hitting "below the fold," but hitting "below the belt!"
Was the artistic goal to leave a sense of uncertainty that the cases would never be solved? Was the intent to portray a wilderness of mirrors in the area of true crime? Or, was the budget exhausted and the film had to be brought to an abrupt conclusion?
David Fremont and Lisa Johnson are the two reporters for a small town paper whose stock in trade is the latest story on a local tractor pull. But David and Lisa tenaciously pursue a pair of ten-year-old murder cases in which two young women were brutally killed with no conclusive evidence about the killer.
The drama was moving along at a brisk pace with some excellent location footage and an effective period style of the late twentieth century. But the filmmakers curiously opted for an ambivalent ending that offered no effective conclusion to their film. For the film audience, this was not a case of hitting "below the fold," but hitting "below the belt!"
Was the artistic goal to leave a sense of uncertainty that the cases would never be solved? Was the intent to portray a wilderness of mirrors in the area of true crime? Or, was the budget exhausted and the film had to be brought to an abrupt conclusion?
Justice was not served
lanternwolf17 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I am so angry at this film. Its genuinely very good but the ending is SO UNSATISFYING.
Its bad enough when the monsters get away in real life the least you can do is give us justice in fantasy.
Still a good movie but goddamn am I angry about the end.
Its bad enough when the monsters get away in real life the least you can do is give us justice in fantasy.
Still a good movie but goddamn am I angry about the end.
Lazy, Boring
Allaboutfall20 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I gave this a movie a glance over and decided to watch. This is the least thrilling drama/crime/thriller I've had the misfortune to force myself to the end of.
Spoilers/not spoilers (nothing to spoil)...
So, two reporters in a small town pretend to do a "piece" on an unsolved murder, maybe get some reaction from the community, or at least find some tips. Nope. I can't decide if the two lead actors are wooden, or cardboard cutouts of actors. The dialogue is so bland I thought I might be watching a bad college play.
There is zero excitement, zero thrills, zero depth... basically zero everything.
I absolutely cannot stand when movie producers can't even get excited with their own movie and script. It's obvious someone threw some money at the producers, who punched a clock and said cut.
The ending was so anticlimactic the producers dumped the ending on the audience.... "Ah, nothing to see here! Not giving you and concrete answers! Sorry, no smoking gun either! Suck it up we were lazy and we know it...
These two seasoned reporters didn't come up with a juicy tip to report to local law enforcement, no scintillating leads that might help the investigation.... Nothing, nada.... Not even the story they were working on was produced or printed in the town newspaper. Just lazy.
Spoilers/not spoilers (nothing to spoil)...
So, two reporters in a small town pretend to do a "piece" on an unsolved murder, maybe get some reaction from the community, or at least find some tips. Nope. I can't decide if the two lead actors are wooden, or cardboard cutouts of actors. The dialogue is so bland I thought I might be watching a bad college play.
There is zero excitement, zero thrills, zero depth... basically zero everything.
I absolutely cannot stand when movie producers can't even get excited with their own movie and script. It's obvious someone threw some money at the producers, who punched a clock and said cut.
The ending was so anticlimactic the producers dumped the ending on the audience.... "Ah, nothing to see here! Not giving you and concrete answers! Sorry, no smoking gun either! Suck it up we were lazy and we know it...
These two seasoned reporters didn't come up with a juicy tip to report to local law enforcement, no scintillating leads that might help the investigation.... Nothing, nada.... Not even the story they were working on was produced or printed in the town newspaper. Just lazy.
Where's the love for "Below the Fold"?
seanmcp-8323630 April 2021
Basically, two small town journalists are assigned to write a story about the ten-year anniversary of a young girl's disappearance.
I don't know why this film has 4 stars. It's worth at least 5. Script is OK, but direction and mood are great. Both leads are good. Ending was a little confusing, but that was no big deal. It's definitely worth a watch.
I don't know why this film has 4 stars. It's worth at least 5. Script is OK, but direction and mood are great. Both leads are good. Ending was a little confusing, but that was no big deal. It's definitely worth a watch.
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