What Lies Below

As Liberty Wells, or Libby as she prefers to be called, returns to her family's lake house after a summer spent away at camp, she finds herself in the midst of a whirlwind of emotions. Her mother, Michelle Wells, a romance novelist with a flair for the dramatic, offers Libby the chance to practice driving on their way back from camp, a gesture that sets the tone for a summer of self-discovery and growth. Upon arriving at the lake house, Libby meets her mother's new beau, John (played by actor), an aquatic geneticist with a passion for studying the adaptability of creatures in the face of environmental changes. As they settle into their routine, John presents Libby with a symbolic bracelet adorned with markings that pay homage to the goddess of fertility, a gesture that seems innocuous enough at first but holds deeper significance as the story unfolds.

As dinner conversations flow and laughter rings out, Libby finds herself drawn into a world of intrigue and mystery. She begins to notice strange sounds emanating from the kitchen late at night, only to find John lingering in her doorway, his presence both unnerving and intriguing. The next morning, Michelle and Libby take a stroll down memory lane by digging up time-capsules buried in the yard, their conversation taking a poignant turn as they discuss Libby's perception of her grandparents and Michelle's own struggles with feeling unwanted by her father.

Libby spends the day exploring the lake, only to be bitten by a mysterious insect that John later helps her to treat. As tensions rise within the household, Michelle reveals that she has agreed to marry John, news that sends Libby reeling. In search of answers, Libby descends into the basement, where she uncovers the dark truth behind John's research: he is working with parasites, a revelation that sets off alarm bells in her mind.

As the night wears on and Libby prepares for bed, she awakens to find herself covered in blood, a sign that her body is undergoing significant changes. Her subsequent conversation with John reveals his attempt to clean up the mess, an act that only serves to further unsettle Libby. Meanwhile, John has been sneaking into the bathroom, drawn by the scent of Libby's freshly showered skin.

In desperation, Libby turns to her friend Marley for support and invites her to join her at the lake house. That night, as the red lights that have been pulsing through the lake begin to take on a life of their own, Libby watches in horror as John slips into the water, only to emerge completely dry moments later. In a shocking twist, he reveals his struggles with sleep-walking, a confession that raises more questions than it answers and sets the stage for a summer of secrets and surprises.

As dawn breaks, Michelle dispatches Libby to the nearby town to procure essential supplies - a medical remedy and a pregnancy test. While Libby is away, her curiosity gets the better of her as she trails a man eerily resembling John down the street with another woman in tow. Upon returning to the house, Libby shares her unsettling experience with Marley, revealing that John had made unwanted advances towards her. Marley decides to confide in Michelle about the alleged incident, but before anything can be done, Libby interrupts their conversation, having just woken up to find Michelle and John together. Michelle's announcement of her pregnancy sends shockwaves through Libby, who is visibly disheartened by the news. However, her concerns are dismissed by Michelle, who accuses Libby of fabricating tales about John's inappropriate behavior.

Libby's growing unease is palpable as she observes John sporting a peculiar nictitating membrane, prompting her to desperately try and separate Michelle from him. Michelle's response to this attempt is a slap, leaving Libby reeling. It becomes clear that Michelle has been deceiving everyone about her age - she is 42, not the claimed 35. John departs shortly after this revelation, leaving an atmosphere of tension and foreboding.

Later, Libby's investigation into the basement yields some disturbing findings. She notices strange symbols etched onto her wrist where a bracelet once resided, only to discover similar markings on Michelle's wrists and the walls. Her discovery leads her to uncover Michelle in a tank attached to an IV, surrounded by identical symbols. Libby chooses to remain hidden as John watches Michelle give birth to a dying creature, which is then revealed to be some sort of monstrous offspring.

Libby's next move is to call the authorities, but instead, she finds Marley's lifeless body submerged in a water tank, being devoured by parasites. John suddenly appears and attacks Libby as she tries to escape with Michelle, only for Libby to wake up bound in a basement. A group of men who bear an uncanny resemblance to John emerge from the shadows, slowly peeling away the walls to reveal numerous unconscious women confined in water tanks.

As Libby watches in horror, John regurgitates a glowing substance and forces her to ingest it. When she awakens, Libby finds herself surrounded by other women, all apparently in pupal stages, contained within water tanks. As the tanks begin to fill with water, Libby initially panics, banging on the glass walls. However, upon realizing that she can breathe underwater, a strange sense of acceptance washes over her, and she breaks into a subtle smile.