The Beat Beneath My Feet

2015 • 91 minutes

About this movie

Tom (Nicholas Galitzine) is a teenage loner with dreams of becoming a rock star, but he is thwarted by his God-fearing single mother, Mary (Lisa Dillon). Tom's life takes a dramatic turn when an intimidating stranger moves into the flat below and plays loud rock music throughout the night. Tom recognises his new neighbour (Luke Perry) as Max Stone, a disgraced American guitarist who disappeared years earlier owing a fortune in unpaid tax and has been presumed dead. Tom agrees not to reveal Max to the authorities on the condition that he teaches him the dark arts of rock guitar.

Ratings and reviews

This is a great little British independent movie. I saw it first at Raindance Film Festival in London in autumn 2014 where it played to packed houses. Subsequently its been at festivals around the world, including the very prestigous Berlinale. Luke Perry was on many girls bedroom walls in the 90s as a pin-up from TV show Beverly Hills 90210 but he turns in a far more nuanced and mature performance here as a reclusive rock star blackmailed into teaching guitar to a school kid. Nicholas Galitzine is a revelation as Tom, the shy teenager, portraying both vulnerablility and ambition in equal measure. For a first film role its a great start to a promising career. Lisa Dillon as the mother Mary is also very good, particularly when confronting Max Stone, who she thinks is leading her son astray. Of no less importance to the enjoyment is a great soundtrack of original songs performed by Nicholas Galitzine with some quirky animated video montages and some stonking rock guitar from John Fairhurst. All in all very much recommended.

I recently saw The Beat Beneath My Feet and going into it I didn’t know what to expect, but after watching it I was definitely not disappointed. This upbeat dramedy follows teenaged loner Tom (Nick Galtizine) as he tries to bring his dream of becoming a famous rocker to life. With the help of his disruptive neighbor Steve (Luke Perry), the duo forms a friendship that in the end helps Tom reach his goal of performing at his local battle of the bands. From its amazing cinematography to superb performances by the main cast, The Beat Beneath My Feet kept me engaged from the opening scene to the end credits. This is a movie I definitely recommend you go and watch.

If you are a music enthusiast like myself, you will absolutely fall in love with The Beat Beneath My Feet film. The original rock music written by leading actor Nicholas Galitzine demonstrates his raw talent and impressive ability to write heart-felt lyrics and melody as his character Tom plays his music in the Battle of the Bands competition at his high school. Although Tom is an awkward and broken teenager, he is secretly an aspiring musician who seeks help from a famous guitarist who moved in downstairs. The compilation of the strong narrative as well as the magnificent acting created an engaging and energetic story that people of all generations would enjoy.