David Twohy
The director who transformed an alien sci-fi script into a claustrophobic WWII ghost story.
David Twohy is a director and writer who retooled the script for the 2002 submarine horror film Below, originally titled Proteus. While Darren Aronofsky wrote the initial historical sci-fi thriller concept with Lucas Sussman in June 1998, Miramax signed him to a $600,000 pay-or-play deal following his debut Pi. After Pitch Black became a sleeper hit in 2000, Twohy was hired to direct and rewrite the project, shifting its focus from an alien monster attack to a ghost story set aboard a World War II submarine. He refused to re-edit the final cut to secure a PG-13 rating, resulting in Dimension Films giving it a limited release on October 11, 2002.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Director
- Key work
- Below (2002)
- Affiliation
- Dimension Films; Pinewood Studios
- First appearance
- Re-wrote Proteus in May 2000
- Status
- Released October 11, 2002
Lore & Background
The film's production history is defined by a drastic tonal shift. Initially conceived as Proteus, the project featured Nazi depth charges and an alien monster attacking from below. However, Twohy reworked the narrative entirely after taking over in May 2000, dropping the sci-fi elements to create a supernatural horror story about the USS Tiger Shark. The plot centers on a crew haunted by a 'malediction' after mistakenly sinking a British hospital ship, Fort James, in August 1943. Characters like Ensign Odell and Lieutenant Brice uncover that their commanding officer died not from an accident, but from a cover-up involving the suppression of this tragic error. The story culminates with the submarine sinking next to the wreck it destroyed, leaving only five survivors.
Reader's Guide
Filming took place on location in Lake Michigan using the real World War II-era USS Silversides for exteriors, while interior scenes were shot at Pinewood Studios. David Twohy's refusal to alter the film for a PG-13 rating directly impacted its distribution; Dimension Films limited the theatrical release with minimal advertising. Consequently, the film earned only $605,562 in North America box office despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 66% based on 70 reviews, while Metacritic gave it a weighted average score of 55 out of 100. The cast included Bruce Greenwood as Lieutenant Brice, Olivia Williams as Claire Paige, and Matthew Davis as Ensign Odell.
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