The Ones Below 2016

As Kate (Clémence Poésy) and Justin (David Morrissey) prepared for the imminent arrival of their first child, they found themselves at a pivotal juncture with their new neighbors, Jon (Stephen Campbell Moore) and Theresa (Laura Birn). An initial bond formed over dinner quickly revealed a deeper, more intricate emotional landscape. While Kate and Justin had eagerly awaited parenthood for a decade before making the significant decision to start a family, Jon and Theresa were still grappling with the heartache of unsuccessful attempts at conception for the past seven years.

As the evening progressed, it became increasingly clear that Jon and Theresa’s struggle wasn’t just about the challenge of becoming parents; it was intertwined with a profound sense of grief and yearning. The atmosphere grew tense as Theresa, feigning sobriety, took one drink too many and abruptly exited, marking a pivotal moment in the relationships between the couples—one that would be stained by loss and regret.

The arrival of baby Billy introduced a mix of congratulations and disguised envy from Jon and Theresa. Their absence was shrouded in mystery, masked by a vague note suggesting they required time to heal emotionally before reconnecting. As Kate embraced her new role as a mother, an underlying discomfort lingered about Jon and Theresa’s ongoing presence in their lives.

Theresa’s nurturing instincts surged as she offered to babysit Billy, enabling Kate to take a rare moment for herself. However, beneath this generosity lay Teresa’s escalating fixation on motherhood, spiraling her actions into a realm where reality and fantasy began to intertwine. Strange happenings soon caught Kate’s attention, such as unexplained sounds from the baby monitor and an overflowing bathtub, fostering a haunting suspicion that her neighbors were keeping a dark secret.

Driven by her growing disquiet, Kate executed a covert investigation, eventually uncovering an alarming collection of photographs featuring Billy. The visuals, alongside a meticulously arranged nursery, solidified her fears that Jon and Theresa had been executing a calculated plan. Their intentions shrouded in mystery, it became apparent that this would lead to an inevitable confrontation that would irreversibly alter their lives.

Meanwhile, Justin’s ordinary routine was disrupted by an unexpected call from his office, prompting an urgent departure, leaving behind a seemingly trivial reminder—a container of milk—unbeknownst to him, this would soon become a symbol of impending doom. Arriving at work only to find there was no crisis, he opened a poignant email from Kate, simply stating “so sorry,” igniting a sense of dread that propelled him back home.

Tragically, upon entering their flat, Justin stumbled upon the unthinkable: Kate’s lifeless body submerged in the bath, a heart-wrenching outcome of her struggle against the encroaching despair that enveloped her. The magnitude of the tragedy gradually rose to the surface like shards of broken glass, revealing that Jon and Theresa had schemed against her, their sinister motives masked under a facade of friendship.

The cruel truth unfolded bit by bit, exposing Jon’s calculated deception; he authored the terse email from Kate’s laptop, instilling an eerie reflection of betrayal in Justin’s mind. As further revelations emerged, the chilling image of Theresa, now adorning Kate’s clothes, callously disposing of their beloved pet into the water accentuated the horror of their actions. This stark realization hinted at a shared destiny, reminiscent of the one faced by Kate and Justin.

In the wake of these devastating discoveries, Justin was left to grapple with overwhelming grief. His world was irrevocably altered, as the familiar faces of Jon and Theresa faded into the shadows, leaving behind only memories stained by betrayal and the haunting presence of baby Peter—a constant reminder of the darkness concealed beneath the veneer of their seemingly perfect lives.