Factual error: When Claire pulls herself out of the bathtub, she falls right over the center of the tub. The bloody fingerprints would have been wiped away or completely smeared by her nightgown and bathrobe during the fall.
What Lies Beneath (2000)
1 review
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Remar, Miranda Otto, Amber Valletta, Joe Morton, Diana Scarwid, Katharine Towne
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What Lies Beneath is Robert Zemeckis' homage to Alfred Hitchcock thrillers in this haunted tale of a prominent professor and his wife experiencing disturbing visions and strange occurrences when they move into his family's suburban home and their daughter goes off to college. Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer star as the unfortunate couple, whose marriage and sanity unravel as suspicions about a possible murder grow. Tense, well-acted and entertaining from start to finish, What Lies Beneath won't let you escape its grasp once it draws you into the mystery and danger.
More mistakes in What Lies Beneath
Claire Spencer: That girl must be brought up.
Trivia: Right at the end, in fact the very last frame, you can see a face in the snow as the shot fades out.
Question: If Norman married Claire when she was "touring with a baby" (Caitlin), why is he not referred to as Caitlin's stepfather? When they take her to college, Claire refers to him as "Norman" when speaking to her. I've seen the movie a few times and always thought this was a little odd. Many people would even think of a stepfather as "father" if he was the one who raised them for most of their life.
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Answer: There's no rule about how a step-father is referred to. Caitlin may simply not consider him a father figure and is close to her real dad. Most step children call their step-parent by their first name, regardless of how long the parents have been married. Most likely it's a plot device so that the audience isn't confused about or doesn't forget that Norman is not Caitlin's real father. Some may be offended by a father killing his biological child's mother. It makes Norman less attached to either Claire or Caitlin.
raywest ★
I am not trying to be rude, but have you seen this movie? You say that Caitlin might be close to her real dad. He is dead. Claire was "touring with a baby" after he died, and then she met Norman. Hence why I found the situation a bit odd. Norman has been in Caitlin's life since she was a "baby."
Azalea
I saw the movie some years ago and don't remember every small detail. However, my main point was that calling Norman by his first name was a plot device to keep the audience focused on him not being Caitlin's biological father. This kept his character more detached from Claire and Caitlin, and made him less sympathetic. It showed an emotional/personal divide existed between Norman and Claire and her daughter. He has less resistance in killing Claire if they did not share a biological child.
raywest ★