Help bring “What Lies Beneath” to life

Hi, I’m Lachlan Whitehead and I’m a content creator from the south coast city of Wollongong. To give some insight into my journey, I have been working with local theatre and film companies across the Illawarra and Sutherland region where I have built up a resume working behind the scenes and as a performer. Today, I’m excited to share with you a project that’s been years in the making: What Lies Beneath, a horror-thriller-drama that tells a gripping and personal story, created by local talent from right here in Wollongong.

This journey began six years ago, when I was just in Year 11 of high school, sitting in my photography classroom. It was there that I first began to sketch out the ideas for this story. What started as a brief creative exercise slowly transformed into a full-fledged concept, and before I knew it, I was dreaming of bringing this haunting narrative to life on the big screen. From those early days, What Lies Beneath has evolved into much more than a simple horror film—it has become a deeply personal project that explores themes of mental illness, social alienation, trauma, guilt, and the supernatural.

The story centers around Charlie Blackmore, a man whose life is shattered after the mysterious disappearance of his best friend, Lewis Murphy, during a camping trip. With Charlie wrongly accused of his friend’s murder, he is ostracized by his community for 20 years. That is until a local minister offers him guidance, helping him seek the truth about that tragic night. Together, they return to the ominous tunnels where the events began, hoping to clear Charlie’s name—and perhaps uncover something far more sinister.

What makes What Lies Beneath so special is not only the powerful story, but the incredible team of local actors, filmmakers, and creators who have all come together to make this project a reality. Starring myself (Lachlan Whitehead), Robby Fernandez, Josif Jovanovski, and David Alcalde, along with many talented performers from the Wollongong and Sydney regions, this film is truly a product of our community. We’ve all been working together on voluntary community theatre projects for years, and now we’re channeling that dedication into a film that showcases the raw emotions of real-life struggles, while delivering a thrilling horror experience.

This film isn’t just for fans of horror—it's for anyone who has ever felt misunderstood or alienated, anyone who’s dealt with mental health struggles, or anyone who has experienced the weight of trauma and guilt. What Lies Beneath is an exploration of how the mind can become haunted, not just by the supernatural, but by our past actions and the consequences they bring.

To make this project a reality, we need your support. Our minimum goal is $7,000, but we’re aiming for $10,000 to cover essential production costs, including travel, makeup and prosthetics, VFX, costumes, catering, props and other necessary expenses. Every dollar you contribute will go directly toward ensuring that we can bring this project to life in the best way possible—both in terms of quality and impact.

We also want you to be a part of this journey. By supporting the project, you’ll gain access to exclusive rewards, from behind-the-scenes footage and early screenings to credits in the film and special appearances in the movie itself.

Your support will not only help us tell an exciting and thought-provoking story, but it will also support local talent and contribute to the flourishing creative scene in Wollongong. Together, we can bring What Lies Beneath to life in a way that truly reflects our shared experiences, struggles, and triumphs.

Thank you for your time, your belief in local creativity, and your support in making this dream a reality.