Elevation: An Alien Invasion Movie Criticized on Amazon Prime Video

If you’re a fan of alien invasion movies like War of the Worlds, A Quiet Place, or Battle: Los Angeles, you might be tempted to check out Elevation. Starring Anthony Mackie (Marvel’s new Captain America) and Morena Baccarin (Deadpool, Greenland), and directed by George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau), the film is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. But before you dive in, be warned: this sci-fi thriller has been widely criticized for recycling the genre’s most overused tropes.

A Familiar Premise with a Predictable Twist

The story feels like it was pieced together from the remnants of better alien invasion films. The antagonists? Mysterious and supposedly invincible creatures with no clear origin. The protagonists? A grieving father (Anthony Mackie) on a desperate mission to save his child and a disillusioned scientist (Morena Baccarin) who’s seen better days.

The plot revolves around the creatures’ one glaring weakness: they can’t survive at high altitudes. As a result, humanity’s last refuge is a thin line above 8,000 feet, where the air is pure enough to keep the monsters at bay. It’s an interesting concept, but the execution leaves much to be desired. What could have been a fresh take on the genre quickly devolves into predictable clichés and poor storytelling.

Recycled Characters and Weak Dialogue

Elevation attempts to subvert traditional character roles by making the father the emotional center of the story and the scientist a rugged, alcoholic mentor figure. While this small twist could have been promising, it’s undercut by shallow character development and unconvincing dialogue.

For instance, the characters frequently engage in melodramatic conversations that feel more like filler than genuine attempts to build tension. Lines like, “I blame you for not blaming me,” or “No, don’t blame yourself,” do little to drive the story forward or make the characters relatable.

The film also introduces a third character, only to kill them off within minutes, adding nothing to the narrative except a sense of missed opportunity.

Action Without Impact

The film’s first major action sequence, set near a ski lift, highlights many of its problems. The characters encounter one of the creatures, but instead of building suspense, the scene falls flat due to poor pacing and a lack of coherent rules for the monsters. Viewers are left wondering: How do these creatures detect humans? Why do they seem so inconsistent in their abilities?

The creatures themselves, a mix of tentacled beasts and generic CGI designs, lack any memorable qualities. Despite their supposed speed and ferocity, they’re strangely ineffective at catching the protagonists. The action sequences that follow—chases through mines, standoffs in a hospital, and a final race to the mountains—are plagued by similar issues. Instead of thrilling, they feel disjointed and uninspired, missing the mark on creating real tension.

A Disappointing Payoff

The film builds toward a supposed “twist” regarding the origin of the alien creatures, but the reveal raises more questions than it answers. Why can’t the creatures cross the altitude threshold, even with their tentacles? How did they come to Earth in the first place? The lack of resolution leaves viewers feeling frustrated rather than satisfied.

The climax attempts to deliver a big, explosive finale, but it only underscores the film’s lack of originality and depth. What could have been a gripping exploration of survival and resilience instead becomes a series of missed opportunities wrapped in CGI-heavy mediocrity.

Final Thoughts

Despite a budget of $18 million, Elevation struggles to justify its existence. The film’s core concept—using elevation as a barrier against aliens—had potential, but it’s squandered by weak characters, clunky dialogue, and unengaging action. For fans of Anthony Mackie or Morena Baccarin, their performances may offer brief moments of enjoyment, but they’re not enough to save the movie.

Streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, Elevation might appeal to die-hard sci-fi fans who are willing to overlook its flaws. But for most viewers, it’s a forgettable entry in the alien invasion genre, leaving one lingering question: Why did we even bother?