Anthony Mackie leads a gritty post-apocalyptic thriller where danger lurks below 8,000 feet.
By James Verniere/Boston Movie News
A nifty twist on “The War of the Worlds”-type dystopian tale from director George Nolfi (“The Adjustment Bureau”) and executive producer and lead actor Anthony Mackie, “Elevation” tells the bare bones tale of the end of the world by way of deadly, indestructible creatures unleashed in unseen scenes by sinkholes (OK). The deadly creatures are sometimes invisible, armor-plated, and reptilian with claws and tentacles, and they wipe out 95 percent of the world’s population in one month. The remaining 5 percent figure out that the creatures will not venture above an elevation of 8,000 feet.
The action begins three years later when towns have been established or further populated in the Rocky Mountains, where we meet the film’s key players. Will (Mackie) is the father of 8-year-old Hunter (Danny Boyd Jr.), who suffers from a lung ailment and almost buys it in the opening scenes when he goes below “the limit” and is chased by a “reaper.” Because of a dwindling supply of O2 filters required to keep Hunter alive, Will, whose wife Tara died in an earlier expedition, resolves to travel to a Boulder, Colorado hospital. He is joined by gun-slinging gal pal Katie (Maddie Hasson) and witch-like mad-scientist-next-door Nina (Baccarin). She is a physicist who has been trying unsuccessfully to perfect a way to penetrate the reapers’ armor, and she wants to get back to her laboratory in Boulder.
Thus, the trio embarks upon what most certainly will be a “suicide mission.” Why do I always doubt it when I hear these words in a movie? Director Nolfi has certainly mastered the art of doing a lot with a little. Armed with assault rifles that do next to nothing to slow the “reapers” and a monster tracking device that Nina has invented, Will, Katie, and Nina head down to the limit. Will has carefully planned a route that will include a ride on a ski lift and a trip through an abandoned mine, cutting through a mountain. In the mine, “Elevation” is like a no-budget version of “Lord of the Rings.”
The emotional Venn diagram of the screenplay by John Glenn, Jacob Roman, and Kenny Ryan (all TV’s “SEAL Team”) reads: “Will hates Nina,” “Katie hates Nina,” and “Nina hates them both back.” The actors are better than the screenplay. It’s not hard to figure out who will buy it on the trip (not a producer, for sure). The dialogue is bare-knuckle stuff, although the lighting by cinematographer Shelly Johnson (“Greyhound”) and music by H. Scott Salinas (“Tales of the Grim Sleeper”) are quite effective. “Elevation” frequently often gives off a “Falling Skies”/“The Last of Us” vibe. The chase scene involving the ski lift is well-staged and exciting. The beasties may be a tad too much like the ones in those godawful “A Quiet Place” movies and just as monotonous.
But “Elevation” turns out to be more than the sum of its modest parts. Hasson is notably good as gun-toting Katie, accused by Nina of having a crush on widower Will. The title might suck. But “Elevation” is, in fact, a quite nice addition to the ever-growing number of “War of the Worlds” knockoffs. It’s the gift H.G. Wells bestowed upon a still grateful (and increasingly dystopian) world.
‘Elevation’
Rating: R for language
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson, Danny Boyd Jr
Director: George Nolfi
Writer: John Glenn, Jacob Roman, Kenny Ryan
Running Time: 90 minutes
Where to Watch: AMC Boston Common, AMC South Bay, Liberty Tree Mll and other suburban locations
Grade: B
Boston Movie News 