‘Elevation’ is a Tense Thrill Ride with Bulletproof Monsters and an Impossible Mission

Elevation

★ ★ ★

‘Elevation’ is a post-apocalyptic film set in the Rocky Mountains, where a surviving pocket of humanity has built a self-sustaining small town. The monsters in the film, for some reason, are unable to go higher than 8,000 feet in elevation. Since the town is above this line, the residents are safe.

Except for Hunter (Danny Boyd Jr.), a young boy with lung problems, who relies on a breathing machine that is about to use up its last filter. Without the filter, the machine ceases to operate, and Hunter will die. Will (Anthony Mackie) is Hunter’s dad and can’t let this happen. Down their mountain range is the city of Boulder, where there are cases of filters that will keep Hunter alive for a very long time.

Unfortunately, Boulder is below 8,000 feet, and the monsters that await are large, bug-like creatures that are efficient, ruthless killers. To make matters worse, no human has been able to kill one of these monsters. Will’s plan is a suicide mission – any dad who loves his son would take this risk.

Also in this town is a woman named Nina (Morena Baccarin), who has a piece of one of the monster’s outer shells. She’s a physicist and has been spending her time modifying bullets in order to penetrate that shell. She has a theory on how to make bullets that could penetrate the beasts but will need to get to her lab which is conveniently at the same hospital where Will is headed.

Will’s wife – and Hunter’s mom – was killed when she helped Nina try to get to her lab a year prior. Will blames Nina for this, as does his wife’s friend Katie (Maddie Hasson). Knowing the risks, and despite some serious dramatic tension between the characters, Will, Katie and Nina decide to journey down the mountain.

The movie does a good job of making sure we fully understand the peril involved and doesn’t hesitate to show us the penalty for daring such insurmountable odds. The story is wrought with tension, exciting action and near escapes that will have you gripping your popcorn bucket.

The only problem is the conclusion. It felt rushed, and it deflated the tension that had been expertly built. Thankfully, it didn’t kill the story, though it did lessen the impact of the climactic finale.

Elevation is certainly worth a watch. It might even be more fun knowing you’re likely watching it below 8,000 feet.

Sci-Fi, Action, Mystery & Thriller