For something that looks like the film maker snuck into my local movie store and put it on the shelf just to see if anyone would try to rent it, it actually comes off really well done.

Yes, the actors are just kids (a couple of the adults aren't bad - Shane's father and Angelica) and the film is painfully homemade, but the soundtrack works, the plot - though holey and slow in places - isn't horrible... the writing is painful at times... but there are several gems that come through - funny one liners ("can't a guy jack off in peace?" "every day is like Ozzy Osbourne fantasy camp"),touching moments (when the almost fun feeling you get from watching the guys try to redress the dead girl to make her more inconspicuous dissolves to the horrible realization on Ethan's face as he sees the staples from her autopsy incision) and a well used soundtrack - the concert scene was particularly awesome... whoever that band was, they can really tear it up.

In the end, I was totally surprised by it...but not unpleasantly.

Despite this film's obviously low budget and amateur cast, it really was surprisingly good. The editing was quality if not edgy. The story came off as interesting and believable (for a zombie-revenge film) and lacked a lot of the stupid twists and successive inconsistencies of similar films.

The music was pop-rock/metal, obviously youth oriented- not exactly my cup of tea but it wasn't offensive, and given the cast of mostly adolescents it didn't feel out of place.

Although they won't be winning any Oscars for this, I never felt annoyed or contemptful of the acting- it was actually really good for the level of production attempted here and all the roles felt pretty comfortable to me.

Plot wasn't exactly complex, but also it wasn't over-reaching which is important for a production like this. Better to accomplish what you can do than fail at something you aren't really capable of.

So I give this film 6/10, because even though this exceeded my expectations, cmon, this is an amateur flick. Sure, it wasn't bad, even pretty good considering, but also nothing groundbreaking here.

A solid enjoyable film in the teen zombie genre, minus a lot of the cheese you typically find, despite the fact that it looks like a college-level film. Give it a try if you're the type that likes to watch up and coming filmmakers, because these guys impressed me.

Beneath the Surface is a brilliantly crafted film on so many different levels. I'm not one to toss out high ratings but this film gets an easy 10, and deservedly so. For an independent film, it holds together strong with a capturing story. The movie hooks you from the very beginning and doesn't let you go. The dialogue is extraordinarily well done and there is plenty of realism, as far as raising the dead goes. The quick, witty one liners and/or comedic scenes are well received and help to fill transistional points throughout. Having seen a ridiculous amount of high budget and low budget horror films, I push you to see this as it is simply one of the best movies that I have seen in quite some time. Blake Reigle is a great writer/director with an even greater vision and with time and the given opportunities, we will see even greater films to come. See this movie!