Movie · 2024 · Action, Science Fiction, Thriller · 1h 31m · R · English
Curator score: 0.5/10 (74K ratings)
Don't go down without a fight.
Overview
Post-apocalyptic survivors find refuge in the Rocky Mountains to hide from giant, insect-like creatures that can't live above 8,000 feet. However, when one of them needs life-saving supplies, they risk it all to venture into the danger zone.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.5/10
IMDb: 5.6/10
Letterboxd: 2.24/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 53%
Metacritic: 50
TMDB: 6.4/10
Director
George Nolfi
Production
Lyrical Media, Grinder Monkey, John Glenn Entertainment, Story Ink
Cast
Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson, Danny Boyd Jr., Rachel Nicks, Shauna Earp, Tyler Grey, Drexel Malkoff, David Malkoff, Mike Hickman, Ian Hummel, James Anthony Perez, Gregg S. Perry
Where to watch
Max
Curator Review
Verdict
A brisk, modest post-apocalyptic creature feature with a strong high-altitude premise, decent tension, and appealing leads, but it leans heavily on familiar genre beats and thin worldbuilding. It works best as a compact, low-stakes watch rather than a standout sci-fi thriller.
Best for
Viewers who like lean monster-movie setups with a simple survival hook
Fans of Anthony Mackie or Morena Baccarin
People in the mood for an undemanding, fast-moving genre watch
Audiences who enjoy post-apocalyptic suspense more than deep lore
Skip if
You want original worldbuilding or big thematic ambition
You are sensitive to generic dialogue and obvious plotting
You expect creature design and effects on a major-studio level
You prefer horror that fully commits to dread or innovation
Overview
Elevation has a clean, high-concept hook: stay above 8,000 feet or get eaten. That single rule gives the movie its best moments, turning the Rocky Mountains into a survival maze and making every descent feel like a gamble. The cast helps keep it watchable, and the movie moves quickly enough that its limitations are often easier to forgive than dwell on.
Worth noting
What holds it back is familiarity. The film borrows heavily from the recent wave of quiet, rule-bound apocalypse thrillers, and it never quite finds a distinctive voice of its own. The dialogue can feel functional to the point of stiffness, and the mythology is more teased than satisfying.
Bottom line
Still, there’s a certain value in a compact genre piece that knows how to get in, create a few tense set-pieces, and get out. If you’re looking for a polished but minor creature feature, this is serviceable. If you want the next great post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, this isn’t it.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Cal (1.5★) · 784 likes
Did the director have a loaded gun on set and start threatening anyone who improvised any natural dialogue?
𝖊𝖗𝖈. 🕸️ (2★) · 308 likes
I enjoyed the amazing Colorado Mountains & forests though
SeanChandler (2.5★) · 176 likes
This weekend, I watched Elevation, a new post-apocalyptic creature film starring Anthony Mackie. The setup is a familiar one: creatures have taken over Earth, but they can’t survive above a certain elevation. So, humanity has taken refuge in the Rocky Mountains, only venturing down into the dangerous lower zones to scavenge for resources. It’s a solid premise, but if you’ve seen films like A Quiet Place, you’ll feel like you’ve been here before.
As a fan of the genre, I… more
Rob Hill (3★) · 175 likes
Look, not every movie needs to blow your mind. Not every movie needs to make you feel like your plastered to your couch as the horror unfolds before you. What I'm saying is not every movie needs to be The Substance.
Sometimes you're looking for some solid replacement level Sci-Fi action to go with your coffee when you wake up too early on a Saturday morning. Sometimes you find it!
2016 · Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama · 1h 44m · PG-13 · Curator 5.8/10 (1M ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A compact, high-tension survival thriller built around confinement, uncertainty, and escalating threat.