Elevation

November 6th, 2024

MOVIE: ELEVATION

STARRING: ANTHONY MACKIE, MORENA BACCARIN, MADDIE HASSON

DIRECTED BY: GEORGE NOLFI

AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)

RATED: R

RUN TIME: 90 MINUTES

2 ½-star movies are always a bit tricky to review. They tend to have a mix of the good and the bad, making it hard to definitively say whether or not you should recommend them. Elevation falls squarely in this category. It’s not a bad movie, but it treads familiar ground within the sci-fi genre—particularly the post-apocalyptic, monster movie subgenre—where we’ve seen variations of this plot countless times before. Ultimately, it’s what I would call “fine.” Anthony Mackie leads the film as Will, a father embarking on a dangerous mission to save his son, fight off monstrous creatures, and potentially save humanity. There’s plenty to appreciate, but also a fair amount to criticize. Elevation doesn’t quite rise to greatness, but it avoids being outright bad, landing somewhere between good and mediocre. If solid action is what you’re after, this one hits the mark.

The film is set in a world on the brink of collapse after giant, terrifying monster creatures have descended on Earth. These creatures—part scorpion, part dinosaur—are nearly impossible to kill due to their hard, shell-like exteriors. Humanity’s last survivors have sought refuge in the Colorado mountains, where the creatures cannot travel above 8,000 feet. Will (Mackie), his son Hunter (Danny Boyd Jr.), and a small community of survivors, including the tough scientist Nina (Morena Baccarin) and Will’s friend Katie (Maddie Hasson), live in isolation. But when Hunter’s life-threatening medical condition requires a specific filter for his breathing machine, the trio must venture down from their high-altitude refuge to a town below the safe elevation to find supplies for the entire group.

As far as post-apocalyptic monster movies go, Elevation is… fine. The film’s production design and tone feel reminiscent of the first season of The Last of Us, and the premise—survivors battling monstrous creatures in a destroyed world—might work better as a series than a standalone film. That said, the movie maintains a steady pace, thanks to George Nolfi’s direction and a screenplay by John Glenn, Jacob Roman, and Kenny Ryan. There are a few standout set pieces, including an exciting sequence involving a ski lift that adds a unique touch to the action. The monsters themselves look cool, with solid CGI, and the film gradually reveals their strengths and weaknesses. The action moves at a brisk pace, especially when the characters are on the run or taking shelter, keeping the audience engaged. However, despite all this, Elevation still feels like a rehash of other, better films, and that familiarity holds it back from standing out.

The performances are… fine. Mackie brings a level of sincerity to his role, but the material feels too familiar, making it hard to shake the sense that we’ve seen him play this kind of character before—whether in Outside the Wire or The Tomorrow War (with Chris Pratt). There are a few moments to latch onto, like a tense chase sequence in a dark cave, but ultimately, the film lacks the depth or innovation to make it truly memorable. It’s a solid time at the movies, but not something you’ll be thinking about long after the credits roll.

Elevation teases the possibility of a sequel, and I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing where it could go from here. It has potential, but it’s also a movie that leaves you wanting just a little more.

2 ½ STARS

Elevation opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, November 8th, 2024.

Written by: Leo Brady
leo@amovieguy.com