High-concept monster thriller, Elevation slots itself neatly into the post-A Quiet Place / Bird Box era of cinematic tension. Like those movies, it kicks off with a tantalising premise: terrifying creatures suddenly appear on Earth, exterminating almost all human life and we follow protagonists as they scramble to survive and find their tormentors’ weaknesses. Unfortunately, in the case of Elevation, the movie struggles to rise to its potential, weighed down by a lackluster script and an uneven execution.
The movie follows Will (played by the ever-charismatic Anthony Mackie), a widower with a sick son, stranded in a tiny community within the mountains of Colorado. Humanity has been decimated and it seems the only sanctuary can be found by going above 8000ft, where the monsters can’t reach them. When Will’s son Hunter’s (played by Danny Boyd Jr) medicine runs out, Will enlists the help of local wannabe badass Katie (Maddie Hasson) and tortured scientist Nina (Morena Baccarin) to head ‘below the line’ to a nearby town with a hospital in the hopes of finding fresh supplies.
As a three-hander, the film feels rather unbalanced with the role of Katie feeling like an odd casting choice. Mackie and Baccarin bring movie-star sheen to the show, however, with performances that surprisingly shine brightest in the quieter, more intimate moments. In reality, the movie and its stars are let down by an underserving script. Heavily weighted exposition works well for the fast-paced action sequences but it robs the overall narrative of the subtlety and tension it craves to really immerse viewers in the world.
Visually, Elevation excels. The cinematography captures the haunting beauty of the idyllic mountain ranges that shelter the terrifying beasts. The VFX team has crafted a brilliant monster and while it’s great to see it expertly rendered on screen, Elevation misses out on the fear and suspense that can be wrought by simply teasing glimpses of the foe. The movie really shines with its action sequences, which are explosively delivered with all the fun an action thriller demands.
Elevation is a movie that sadly struggles to deliver any really weighty punches and skews more in favour of bombastic action. Smartly and tightly edited to arrive as a well-paced 91 minute monster mash, although relatively formulaic, the promise of the premise and Mackie and Baccarin’s charm manages to keep hope alive, even carrying the audience to perhaps root for the overtly teased sequel.
Elevation will be released on Prime Video on 8 Feb.