Home/Episodes/What Lies Beneath
'What Lies Beneath’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Mallory Rubin
January 14, 2026 · What Lies Beneath (2000) · Drama · Horror · Mystery · 1:44:27 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsJoe Mooney — Discussed multiple 'that guy' actors including Rogan (cameraman in Anchorman), Wendy Creason, Diana Scarwood, and Joe Mooney from Terminator 2▶ 23:27
Chris RyanReferenced Joey Pants and discussed Rogan, but mentioned having his own 'that guy' pick that wasn't revealed in this segment▶ 23:28
Craig HorlbeckMentioned getting actors like those in The Matrix and compared 'that guy' actors to Robert Horry - having titles but as side characters▶ 22:37
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Mallory RubinIf you stay in a haunted house that long you deserve to maybe die - Claire should have left pretty early after all the horrible things happening▶ 29:41
Horlbeck Runtime Scale
Chris RyanAgrees it could be shorter, citing unnecessary lengthy sequences like the trip to get the key▶ 32:40
Mallory RubinShould be shorter, remove about 20 minutes from the front - the slow deliberate pacing is too much on rewatch▶ 32:11
Watch Party
Bill SimmonsSafe scary - kids can watch it, good for casual viewing situations like visiting girlfriend in college▶ 33:14
Chris RyanLate summer vacation vibes - last two days of vacation before going home, with water nearby▶ 32:32
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe dinner scene (loves double dates with info gathering and couple dynamics), the Ouija board scene (notes Ouija board scenes always work)▶ 36:12
Chris RyanThe binoculars jump scare through the fence, though notes the first half hour is somewhat unnecessary▶ 35:56
Mallory RubinThe fear sex scene between Claire and Norman, and enjoys the dinner scene dynamics▶ 37:05
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsAgrees Warren might do both - kill Mary and leave her for a student, calling it a 'same game parlay'▶ 42:03
Chris RyanDiscusses Michelle Pfeiffer's realization that there's a huge chunk of her life she doesn't remember, particularly regarding the car accident▶ 42:19
Mallory RubinHow many years into the future does Warren kill Mary? Because for sure he kills her. He just leaves her for a student. Or maybe both.▶ 41:54
Hall of Fame Plaque
Mallory RubinIf you're going to kill me, don't do it in the same way you killed your mistress who you cheated on me with. It's just insulting.▶ 1:10:15
Casting What-Ifs
Chris RyanHarrison Ford — Harrison Ford turned down Perfect Storm to do What Lies Beneath, creating a casting what-if for Perfect Storm instead▶ 1:12:52
Dion Waiters Award
Mallory RubinDiscussed Ghost Lady and Madison (no lines) as options, questioned if Jodie has too much screen time to qualify▶ 1:13:34
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsTom Cruise — Goes through multiple items saying no to most (Harrison Ford, ghost movies, Zemeckis, etc.), maybe to 'cheating husband comeuppance movies', strongly supports Tom Cruise over Tom Hanks▶ 1:19:06
Chris RyanTom Hanks — Tom Hanks - argues this would be counter-programming against his image, like Harrison Ford did▶ 1:20:13
Craig HorlbeckAgainst factoring in actors' shooting schedules when making apex mountain determinations▶ 1:21:38
Mallory RubinTom Hanks — Against Tom Hanks due to scheduling conflicts with Castaway (weight loss/physical transformation incompatible)▶ 1:21:09
What's Aged the Worst
Mallory RubinThe portrayal of empty nest syndrome - the whole 'I've lost my mind because I'm an empty nester now and have no identity' aspect, calling it not the most delicate portrait in the script▶ 1:27:39
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsEnjoyed Fergie the Florist as an option, but didn't make a definitive selection▶ 1:32:02
Chris RyanFergie the Florist - imagining him as the threatening figure ('you're gonna do this for me')▶ 1:31:38
Mallory RubinDiscussed Wayne Jenkins as local law enforcement and expressed that Fergie is one of her favorites, but no single definitive pick▶ 1:32:06
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsIf you're gonna go through all this hullabaloo to kill your mistress, figure out a better place to dump all of her stuff with the necklace - not in front of your dock▶ 1:36:37
Mallory RubinAgrees with the life lesson about poor disposal choices, emphasizing he has a boat and could throw evidence anywhere▶ 1:37:07
Memorabilia Award
Bill SimmonsThe Scott Carino photos - would frame them and give them to Jeff Gallo for Christmas▶ 1:37:18
Best Double Feature
Mallory RubinPanic Room — Multiple suggestions: Panic Room (agreed with Bill), Mosquito Coast (Ford as bad guy theme), The Fugitive or Presumed Innocent (guilty/not guilty ambiguity theme)▶ 1:38:57
Who Won the Movie
Craig HorlbeckMichelle Pfeiffer — Said 'Rock solid' when asked, but unclear if agreeing with Pfeiffer or giving separate answer▶ 1:39:48
Movies Referenced (46)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 53:12 |
| The Fugitive (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Mallory Rubin, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:23 |
| Blade Runner (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 22:18 |
| From Hell (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 5:33 |
| The Killer (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 9:14 |
| Bright (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 48:00 |
| Eyes Wide Shut (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:20:56 |
| Panic Room (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:15:21 |
| Scary Movie (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 52:28 |
| Six Days Seven Nights (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 17:55 |
| The Lord of the Rings (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Mallory Rubin | ▶ 1:13:45 |
| The Matrix (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 9:52 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derwin James | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 3:12 | |
| Ridley Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Martian, Blade Runner | ▶ 25:55 |
| Rob Reiner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | This Is Spinal Tap, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 15:25 |
| Christopher Nolan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Tenet, Interstellar, Inception | ▶ 1:42:30 |
| Denis Villeneuve | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Mallory Rubin | Blade Runner 2049 | ▶ 26:09 |
| Steven Soderbergh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 50:01 |
Actors Referenced (51)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 56 | Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 3:12 |
| Michelle Pfeiffer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 28 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Chris Ryan | What Lies Beneath | ▶ 3:37 |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 25:19 |
| Ouija Whittemore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 40:02 | |
| Richard Gere | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck, Mallory Rubin | Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman | ▶ 23:52 |
| Ray Baker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Total Recall | ▶ 12:59 |
| Clark Gregg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Avengers | ▶ 26:19 |
| Luke Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums | ▶ 25:19 |
| Scott Carino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 53:57 | |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Craig Horlbeck, Bill Simmons | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 1:21:59 |
| Elando Baltimore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 1:05:24 | |
| Kelly McGillis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Witness, Top Gun | ▶ 16:00 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Spencer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 41 | Mallory Rubin, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 20:56 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 33:48 |
Cinematographers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Fuhrer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Lord of the Flies | ▶ 57:58 |
| Don Burgess | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Mallory Rubin | Forrest Gump, Cast Away | ▶ 1:32:36 |
| Robert Gantz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:08 |