User reviews

It was an interesting concept and an entertaining movie. There are several plot holes, and things that don't make sense. Much less get answered. It's not scary, but it does get a little tense in some spots. Unfortunately a lot of the characters are cliche and the dialogue seems forced sometimes. The mystery of Elevation is the strongest part of the movie. Rarely do I hope for a prequel to explain the story better. However in this case I think one should be made I don't think there will ever be one, my son and I went to it and there was literally only one other person in the theater. In my opinion it is definitely worth a watch.

This movie is much better than the bad reviews would lead you to believe. OK, so it's a cheaper knockoff of The Quiet Place. But that doesn't take away from the enjoyment. It's a fun movie if you like the sci-fi monster genre. The script and the acting are above average for this type of movie. It's also nice to see the Colorado mountains scenery. Just like in The Quiet Place, you have to accept one dumb premise in order to be able to enjoy the movie: For some unexplained reason, the monsters can't go above 8000 feet. This movie doesn't have as many holes in the plot as The Quiet Place series. And ending is much better. You actually find out where the monsters came from. It's also easy to figure out why they are killing everyone.

I watched Elevation early as part of Marcus's Mystery Movie series. And I knew nothing about it beforehand. Watching movies this way maximizes your enjoyment, which it definitely did here. Unfortunately the enjoyment offered is fairly limited.

Elevation has some cool parts mixed into a mostly boring movie. The majority is walking and talking with exposition mixed in. It's a fairly standard movie within the subgenre. I like the creature design and a few suspenseful scenes. The rest isn't bad, but it maxes out at serviceable.

From someone who thinks most streaming movies are low-quality garbage, I see Elevation as more of a good streaming movie. But theatrically released, it feels underwhelming.

In a similar subgenre, I found Nicolas Cage's Arcadian to be more entertaining.

(1 viewing, early screening Marcus Mystery Movie 11/4/2024)

"Elevation" is a movie with a compelling premise that, unfortunately, stumbles in its execution. While there are glimmers of creativity and moments of genuine intrigue, the film ultimately falls short of fully capitalizing on its potential.

The story explores a high-concept idea that feels fresh at first but quickly becomes bogged down by uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters. The script occasionally touches on deeper themes but lacks the focus or depth to make a lasting impact. Instead, it relies on predictable plot beats and moments of unnecessary exposition that drag down its momentum.

On the positive side, the visuals are stunning. The cinematography does an excellent job of creating a sense of scale and immersion, and the production design gives the movie a polished, modern aesthetic. The soundtrack also enhances key scenes, adding emotional weight when the story struggles to provide it.

The performances, while not bad, don't elevate the material as much as they could have. The lead actor delivers a solid performance, but the supporting cast feels underutilized, leaving some relationships and dynamics feeling hollow.

Overall, "Elevation" is an admirable attempt that fails to reach its lofty ambitions. While it's not a bad movie and has some entertaining moments, it doesn't leave a lasting impression. For viewers who enjoy thought-provoking concepts, it might be worth a watch, but don't expect it to soar to great heights.

Started as normal end of world storyline. Humans mostly wiped with small group of humans trying to survive. Good mix of peril and discovery. Movie got to point with 90 minute runtime. Quickly establish a reason for me to keep watching.

The character cast was interesting enough and not annoying. Some favorites actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Little character development, honestly I was fine that.

If you liked Quiet Place then you will like this movie. Also this gave me Godzilla monster vibes.

The ending made it worth the watch. Hopefully this will spawn a series or another movie.

Go see this movie!

3.125 STARS - Elevation is a post-apocalyptic monster movie where most of humanity has been destroyed and those who survived are only doing so because they learned that the creatures can't go beyond 8,000 feet of elevation. The trigger for the story in this film is that a small group of the survivors must journey into dangerous territory to acquire some life-saving supplies. While it felt rather generic, this isn't the worst I've ever seen. The ending felt a tad too compressed, and because of that, it probably could have benefitted a bit from a few more minutes in that part. Though it clearly got its inspiration from other movies that have done it better, it added its own unique twist on things that made it at least interesting enough to not outright hate. Anthony Mackie and Monica Baccarin performed well here - especially with Monica, during a moment of emotional distress for her character. The main things that jumped out to me as negatives were the typical perfect-timing scenarios that happened toward the end and the predictable character death/situations that occurred. Other than that, it didn't feel flawed enough to recommend a hard pass on. Also, there is a small mid-credits scene to watch if you're interested. Video review to come shortly.

How do these low budget movie companies no one has ever heard of always get these good actors that have years of experience. I genuinely do not understand it, this movie will not even get half of its budget back in the box office but yet somehow they can get these stars that are worth more than their entire movie. Lyrical media has only made 5 movies and all of them have done poorly, there's no incentive for Anthony mackie and morena baccarin to be in this movie. But overall the movie was just meh, the idea of this movie is so unoriginal and uncreative that it's a bit painful it didn't deserve a theatrical release at all.

C'mon, folks, you can't be a serious person and think this movie isn't trash. The problem is, it's a bit difficult to explain exactly why without using spoilers. But I'll try.

Well here's a shortcut to explaining why: Plot holes abound. People do stupid stuff that makes no sense. Stuff you know they wouldn't do (or be allowed to do) IRL.

This isn't a spoiler since it's revealed at the very start of the movie: The "creatures" don't ever go an inch above 8,000 feet of elevation. This is clearly absurd, and is never explained. Oh, and someone very nicely marked the 8,000-foot elevation line on an entire mountain range, and they did so with hyper-precision. So much precision, in fact that you can lie down and rest just beyond the marked line even if there's a creature that was just bearing down on you, because the creature will stop in its tracks. Absurd.

Splash in all the usual contrived garbage, sprinkle in a bunch of nonsensical plot absurdities, and top it off with a laughably absurd conclusion.

And nothing is ever explained. I guess they looked at the garbage script they had and rightly decided it wasn't worth explaining. Good call.

I enjoyed this film overall .. considering I had read the review which appears as the 'top' review IMDB page, which isn't exactly a negative review, but then it's neither a glowing one either.

I found the acting solid, the small cast wasn't an issue, given that the film has a fairly short runtime, it allowed some development of character and backstory.

Much of this is done in short excerpts, some basic interactions between characters, what they say to one another and so on.

The main traction the film gives is with the small group heading out into to the world and the dangers it now holds .. and this is done well, the editing, the scene by scene rolling out of events had a strong consistency to them.

As I say, it's a fairly short film, or at least felt it when I watched it, and I had no problem with no knowing an awful lot about the characters, as we do know enough to both sympathise and empathise with them.

Both Morena Baccarin and Anthony Mackie give strong performances, the cinematography was very good, the effects very much above average, and on the whole, the film was very entertaining .. and perhaps this is just a first instalment film, with more to follow later, and I'm actually looking forward to 'Elevation 2' :)

I kind of see this as a series. There's a unknown, enemy, unknown motivation, and a world that needs to be retaken. If it's a stand alone film, it's meh. I mean it entertains but it's derivative and lacking in true imagination. If it's a pilot or the first of a series of B movies I think it had real potential.

Regardless, it's better than expected. I definitely think it's worth a watch. The special effects are okay, acting is okay, the monster is lame but the twist at the end gives it legs, it makes you want more, and definitely want an explanation. I hope we at least get a sequel follow up that fills in the missing info.

So, I sat down to watch Elevation, a film that promises thrills, chills, and a heartwarming tale of survival in a world gone mad. The premise? A single dad (played by the ever-charismatic Anthony Mackie) teams up with a brooding neighbor (Morena Baccarin) and a scrappy young woman (Maddie Hasson) to brave a monstrous, post-apocalyptic hellscape in search of lifesaving medication for Mackie's ailing son. Sounds intense, right? Like a twisted mix of The Last of Us and your standard "let's-go-fetch-the-thing-to-save-the-kid" plot. But here's the thing: while the movie has its moments, it often feels like it's hiking up a steep hill only to find the view from the top isn't all that spectacular.

Let's start with the good. Every now and then, Elevation delivers a solid dose of tension. There's one scene in an abandoned factory where our trio faces off against the film's signature monsters that had me white-knuckling my popcorn. For a brief moment, I thought, "This is it! This is where the movie takes off!" But alas, that moment, much like a cheap rollercoaster, peaked too quickly. The premise is another point in its favor. I mean, who doesn't love a good survival story with high stakes and creepy creatures? On paper, this could've been a genre-defining film. Unfortunately, "on paper" is where the brilliance seems to have stayed.

Now, the not-so-good. If you're planning to watch this movie, pack a snack-and maybe a pillow-because the pacing is slow. Like, snail-on-a-cold-day slow. The film spends so much time building up its characters and world that it forgets to, you know, keep things moving. Don't get me wrong; I'm all for character development. But there's a fine line between deep and dull, and Elevation doesn't always find the balance.

And then there are the special effects. Oh, boy. Let's just say that some of the creature designs wouldn't look out of place in a Syfy original movie circa 2010. I'm not saying the CGI is terrible, but when your big bad monster looks like it moonlights as a Halloween store mascot, you've got a problem. Speaking of problems, the big reveal-this film's pièce de résistance-lands with a thud. After all the buildup, the explanation for the monsters (or lack thereof) feels as satisfying as getting socks for Christmas. Sure, they're practical, but where's the excitement?

But wait, there's more! For a movie that wants to tug at your heartstrings, it sure leans hard on tired tropes. Mackie's kid is sick and needs lifesaving medication, so naturally, our heroes embark on a dangerous quest to save him. Haven't we seen this plot a million times before? It's like the writers took a spin on the Wheel of Emotional Stakes and landed on "sick kid." I wanted to care more, I really did, but this well-worn trope made it hard to fully invest.

And yet, despite its flaws, Elevation isn't a total disaster. Anthony Mackie does his best to elevate the material (pun intended), bringing warmth and gravitas to his role. Morena Baccarin broods like a pro, and Maddie Hasson injects some much-needed energy into the proceedings. The trio has decent chemistry, even if the script doesn't always give them enough to work with. It's clear these actors are doing their damnedest to turn this mixed bag into something worthwhile, and for that, they deserve credit.

Ultimately, Elevation is a film that aims high but doesn't quite stick the landing. It's got moments of tension and a solid premise, but the slow pacing, underwhelming effects, and lackluster payoff hold it back. Think of it as the cinematic equivalent of climbing a hill only to realize the view isn't quite worth the hike. Still, it's not a bad way to spend a lazy weekend-just don't expect it to change your life.

Rating: 5/10. A decent watch for fans of creature features, but not a must-see by any stretch.

Film Review: Elevation (2024)

Let's start by saying a great ending after the end ...

The 2024 post-apocalyptic thriller Elevation, directed by George Nolfi and starring Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, and Maddie Hasson, has drawn surprisingly poor general reviews. While it's certainly not groundbreaking, it's far from a disaster. In fact, for fans of science fiction, it's a movie worth giving a chance.

Set in a world where humanity is forced to retreat to high-altitude havens to escape monstrous creatures (the Reapers) that dominate the lower elevations, the film explores themes of survival, sacrifice, and resilience. The plot, while predictable, is executed well enough to keep the audience engaged. The journey of Will (Mackie), Nina (Baccarin), and Katie (Hasson) into the Reapers' domain for life-saving supplies provides tense and action-packed moments, even if the stakes feel familiar.

What elevates (pun intended) this film beyond mediocrity is its third act. The narrative shifts towards something more thought-provoking, delving into the costs of survival and the fragility of hope in a broken world. It may not be on par with the best of the genre, but it's worthy in its attempt to combine action with a deeper reflection.

The performances are solid, especially from Mackie, who brings gravitas to a character that could easily have been one-dimensional. The world-building is decent, and while the CGI isn't exceptional, it serves the story without distracting from it.

If you're expecting a District 9-level reinvention of the genre, Elevation will fall short. But if you're after entertaining, sci-fi escapism with just enough emotional depth to make you think, this movie delivers.

Verdict: Not the masterpiece it could have been, but far better than the reviews suggest. 7/10.

In this film, ancient monsters tunnel up out of the ground and eat humanity. Their one weakness is that they can't exist above 8000 feet above sea level. Cool. So Anthony Mackie and his pals camp out in a mountain village above that height.

They even maintain a chalk line on the roads and forest pathways to distinguish between 7999' and 8000'. The creatures cannot pass this chalk barrier, even when chasing a human to eat.

Deep sea creatures can't continue to exist at the surface of tge ocean, and humans themselves can't live above 26,000', so this concept has a real world analogy. Above 26,000' is known as the Death Zone in the Himalayas. Thing is, humans don't suddenly perish when they hit that point. Some even die before reaching it. Others continue on up, knowing they're on borrowed time. Otherwise, we'd never have made it to the top of Everest.

Point being, these ancient creatures are fine at 7999' and absolutely toast at 8000'. That's just good science.

Soon enough, we're shown that the creatures have tunnelled up from below. The mountain is lousy with spawn holes. But mountains have very little topsoil, which means that the creatures can easily tunnel through solid rock.

Later, of course, the creatures cannot tunnel through rock, and even have trouble with drywall.

Again: Can chew through granite, but have trouble with drywall.

Early in the film, humans encounter wild horses for the first time in years. Anthony asks, Why are there so many? An idiot character tells him, Because they haven't had to contend with us..

But we don't hunt horses. In fact, we breed and nurture them.

If this had been a herd of game animals, such as elk, this might have made sense.

We are shown the giant, roaming herd of wild horses THREE times in the film, and never once do they factor into the plot. Amazing.

Insert many expletives here.

Anthony Mackie is listed as a producer, so he is also officially an expletive.

The rating is a bit skewed to account for the low budget. The story is the weakest element of the movie, but everything else was a nice surprise.

I love the slow pacing which give poignance to the moment and the characters. Sickly tired of TikTok style filmmaking we've had to put up with for the past few years.

There were beautifully shot scenes and even though the ending was underwhelming, they did leave enough of an itch regarding the origin of the reapers that I'd like to have scratched with a sequel.

The acting was good enough, but not much regarding character development, though TBF not much is expected or arguably needed in the genre.

Concept is cool. Like the idea of creatures cannot go above certain elevation. After watching the trailor and seeing Morena Baccarin and Anthony Mackie starring I decided to watch. I was hoping for A Quiet Place like movie but this one lakced intensity and character development. Only five characters, a physicist, a father and son, a dead wife/ mother, and a friend in the movie and we don't learn much about them. Once we find some crumb about the creatures the movies comes to end. The ending was somewhat unsatisfying and needed more resolution. In fact, the mid-credits scene hints at more but I'm not sure this movie warrants a sequel. Though, a squel movie might help to answer all the unanwered questions... too many questions.

I am so glad to see an action movie that isn't gory and that I can take my kids too. Also that's not a superhero movie! I liked the cast a lot. I wished that the two main characters had gotten together but except for that I really liked it. The lead woman was my favorite since Firefly and she was great in this too. I'm glad she is getting more big parts finally. The action was so fun too. Definitely recommend you seeing in the theater - the scenary was beautiful and also it's fun to bring the action to life that way. I hope there is a sequel - I had some questions I want to get answered still but that's what sequels are for, right? This left me wanting more in a good way.

I gave it a 3 because Morena Baccarin is in it. Other than that it was a waste. Could have been a good movie if anything was revealed....where they were from, who created them, why they were created. Why 8,000 ft??? Something, anything. Am I supposed to ask ChatGPT to explain it to me...or was this written by ChatGPT? So she has one thought and it's right!!?? What was the point of this??? Just little hints of nothingness. Was this the first draft of the Starship Troopers before the middle and the end was buttoned up. Even if the movie was supposed to be set up for a sequel it didn't fully set it up. So disappointing.