Trust me. Trust me. Don't read much further. Just go see "What Lies Beneath." If you've seen the trailer you already know far too much. (Damn these movie trailers that give away important plot points). Don't let anyone tell you about this film. Close your ears if you hear anyone speak of it before you see it. Don't read any reviews. Don't read this review. Trust me. Go see it. It's the "Sixth Sense" of summer 2000. Go immediately to your local megaplex. Pick a showtime where the audience will be small (early mornings are best) and go see this movie. You can thank me later. You can read this later.

For those of you who insist on knowing more (fools!), here goes: The film is a tense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Yes, it's a film for adults in that it moves very slowly and in ever decreasing concentric circles until it finally comes to it's brilliant climax. There are times where the film is Hitchcockian in the best sense of the term. Director Robert Zemeckis has never really dabbled in this territory before, so we like the allusions to the master. His climax recalls the most dramatic moments of "Torn Curtain" and some of the claustrophobia (the desperation of someone handicapped) in "Rear Window." And it contains at least one brief reference to "Psycho." The film also may remind some a bit of "Vertigo." But these film history clues do not detract from the film. Rather, they clue us into to the pacing and the construct of the film and allow us to accept them more easily. Zemeckis trusts his instincts and trusts our patience. The payoffs in the film do the filmmaker and the audience justice. It is our knowledge of thrillers and our ability to see that Zemeckis is doing everything perfectly right that allows us to become engrossed in the film. Like a good Hitch film, "What Lies Beneath" has you constantly guessing what is going to happen next. It will pull you in and dangle you over the plot until you are breathless. It's a true masterpiece in the thriller genre. Your bones will be chilled.

Michelle Pfeiffer is fantastic. This is easily her best performance in several years, if not ever. She plays wonderfully into the plot. When backstory and exposition begins weaving the intricate plot points together, Pfeiffer handles each moments with adept truth and purity. And yet it is just this that keeps us guessing about her. I'll say it again; She is fantastic here. Harrison Ford also plays well as her staunch and caring husband. The majority of his moments in the film may be secondary to Pfeiffer's, but in the long run, he makes what seems like a rather bland performance come to life. Both of these actors may have their names bandied about come Oscar time.

Writer Clark Gregg, working from a story he constructed with Sarah Kernochan, has created a script that may be one of the most well crafted thrillers ever. Yes, I am pretty gullible and easily sidetracked, some people may see a few obvious exposition moments that went by me almost unnoticed. But overall, the script is taunt and perfectly compacted. I loved this story, the characters and the plot. There were wonderful subtle nuances and touches, little things that seemed so perfect in the film. The ducks are all perfectly in a row without being obviously arranged. This script is almost flawless.

Of course, Zemeckis really makes it all work. Known of late as being a "special effects" director, Zemeckis uses the camera wisely here. Every frame of the film is important. He does use some technology to his advantage including some morphing effects that are so subtle as to be eye-popping. He includes a couple of shots that are just stupendous. At one point we even travel under a scene to look up at the prone Pfeiffer from below the hard wood floor. It's fantastic. Yes, there are "special effects" here, but only those that are absolutely necessary. Zemeckis uses every trick now known but he does so sparingly, and in a manner that only serves to truly enhance the film.

What is most remarkable about Zemeckis' work here is the pacing. He takes meticulous care to make every scene play impeccably. He creeps us out with his slow pacing over time and draws us very deep into the film. He's fearless in his belief that the audience is with him along for the ride, right at his pace. Eventually, we are easily spellbound and allowing him his desire. This film flows perfectly. The elongated and perfectly metted out last reel of the film is some of the most taunt and engrossing stuff since Hitch walked the Earth.

What more can I say without giving too much away? This is an excellent film. "What Lies Beneath" will be the talk of the summer. And rightly so. Make sure you can be in on the conversation. See it.

Notes: Also with Joe Morton and James Remar.

Zemeckis next projects are "Castaway" starring Tom Hanks at Xmas 2000 and a remake of William Castle's "Macabre" due in 2001.

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