Is As Above, So Below woke?
Movie · 2014
As Above, So Below has a wokeness score of 1/10, which we rate as Not Woke. No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key points
- No political, progressive, or social justice messaging; pure horror escapism.
- Multinational cast feels natural for global exploration, not forced diversity.
- Strong female lead integrated organically into adventure plot without ideology.
Wokeness analysis
As Above, So Below (2014) is a found-footage horror film that delivers pure escapism through its claustrophobic descent into the Paris catacombs, focusing on supernatural terror, personal guilt manifestations inspired by Dante's Inferno, and alchemical lore surrounding the Philosopher's Stone. The narrative centers on archaeologist Scarlett Marlowe, who leads a team seeking this legendary artifact, only to confront hellish visions and their inner demons. There is no political messaging, progressive social commentary, or indoctrination present. Themes revolve around universal human fears, redemption through facing sins, and the occult Hermetic principle 'as above, so below,' which ties the macrocosm to personal psyche without modern ideological overlays. Diversity in the cast—Perdita Weeks (white British lead), Ben Feldman (white American), Edwin Hodge (Black American as cameraman), François Civil, Marion Lambert, and Ali Marhyar (French/North African)—exists organically as a multinational explorer group, serving the story's international quest without emphasis on identity, representation quotas, or empowerment narratives. Scarlett is a competent, driven protagonist akin to an Indiana Jones figure, her skills (linguistics, archaeology) integral to plot advancement, not vehicles for feminist lectures. Criticisms of a brief Iran scene as Islamophobic or Black character tropes highlight genre conventions rather than intentional woke elements; these are incidental, not agenda-driven. Reviews praise its horror intensity and atmosphere, with no mentions of forced inclusion or social justice themes. The film prioritizes thrills, tension, and entertainment, alienating no audience with lectures, making it a refreshing antidote to message-heavy modern media.
Plot
Archaeologist Scarlett Marlowe, obsessed with completing her late father's quest for the Philosopher's Stone, deciphers clues pointing to its hiding place in the Paris Catacombs. She recruits ex-boyfriend George (a linguist), cameraman Benji, and French urban explorers Papillon, Souxie, and Zed. Filming their descent as found footage, the group ventures into forbidden tunnels, encountering eerie phenomena: a haunted phone, inverted rooms, burning cars, and personal hallucinations manifesting guilt—Scarlett's father's suicide, George's brother's drowning, Papillon's hit-and-run. Drawing from Dante's Inferno, they navigate nine circles of hellish trials, facing grotesque figures like a raving undead and a choir. Survival demands confronting sins, leading to a redemptive ascent. The film blends occult history, psychological horror, and supernatural scares in a claustrophobic setting.
Analyzed by AI on April 24, 2026