Ascending Through Tension in 'Elevation'
Elevation is an amazing story of the tireless struggle of a single father to protect a young boy in a world where everyone is Freelance writer in the policymaking and implementation process in an increasingly unequal world Society struggling for oxygen and monstrous creatures roam the surface. Working together with two women, the protagonist faces both familiar and unpredictable challenges on his way across this terrible world.
The main idea of the story tells about life and further struggle for existence. It is rather anxious, promising moments of deep shock and fear in the world of dystopia. People feel the battle against environmental and alien threats.
Anthony Mackie did an excellent job portraying the good father and a hero with inner fear and toughness. Morena Baccarin and Maddie Hasson do a particularly good job portraying strong and intelligent companions.
The film is directed by George Nolfi, with its pacing carefully matching tension to character development, thus providing maximum emotional intensity with the audience’s attention kept engaged.
Elevation employs great sound to build up tension, adding ethereal melodies that help the sense of urgency and gloom to predominate.
’Elevation’ also Lighting is rather effective: the constant use of gloom enhances the feeling of being watched or, at the very least, impending danger.
Production design helps build the world up effectively: destruction and the deserted homes, combined with the density of woods creates an atmosphere of an endangered world.
While the practical effects help to give credibility to the groutines, some of the designs of these creatures seem to be fairly unoriginal. However, they do an adequate job of communicating the danger and the stakes of the film.
The cuts are clean and maintain the tension of the movie, making the jump from intense action to deep sentiment without losing the pacing.
The movie does not drag; the action is fast but controlled and never allows for the viewer to lose interest. There is gradual rise in tension, which does provide for moments of character reflection.
At the same time, dialogue in ‘Elevation’ is realistic and was written very well. It is quite good in portraying despair and animalistic self-preservation drive for the characters but also builds on them even further.
Speaking of ‘Elevation,’ the short is excellent in the sense of tension and the acting, although its plot might be somewhat predictable in some moments for a viewer familiar with the dystopian subgenre. A few creature concepts can be more unique, though.
‘Elevation’ is a thrilling spectacle. Everyone can hear their own heart pounding, and the danger is always present in a sinfully idyllic setting. They never attempt to depict what it means to survive as the exploration of the theme leave a mark.
