Elevator Game (2023)

Elevator Game (2023)

Taglines: Some doors should never be opened.

Elevator Game movie storyline. Based on the online phenomenon of the same name, Elevator Game follows socially awkward teenager Ryan, who ingratiates himself into a group of recent high school graduates that run an online web series debunking urban legends. But Ryan has a secret: His sister disappeared months earlier, and he believes they – and a dangerous online challenge called ‘The Elevator Game’ – were responsible.

To play the game, you must ride the elevator in a specific sequence, invoking a supernatural creature called ‘The 5th Floor Woman’. In an attempt to gain more information as to the whereabouts of his sister, Ryan persuades the group to play the game once more, and risk unleashing the most fearsome consequences imaginable.

Elevator Game is a 2023 American horror film directed by Rebekah McKendry and starring Gino Anania, Megan Best, Alec Carlos, and Nazariy Demkowicz. Shudder released the film 15 September 2023. Based on the online phenomenon of the same name, the film concentrates on a story about a mysterious ritual that may lead the performer into another, dark dimension.

Film Review for Elevator Game

Are you a big believer in urban legends? Well, you’re not alone. And even if you’re not, it’s safe to say they’re at least a tad intriguing. It’s no wonder, then, that there are a plethora of urban legend films out there, based on a wide array of scary conversation-starters. And speaking of scares, a new horror feature called Elevator Game focuses on a particularly spooky legend that runs haywire amidst a fictional crowd of young, budding filmmakers.

You might find better acting in other scary movies out there, but Elevator Game — directed by Rebekah McKendry (All the Creatures Were Stirring) from a script by Travis Seppala and David Ian McKendry — effectively doesn’t hold back on the hard-R-rated violence and unpredictable thrills that might make you jump in your seat and spill popcorn everywhere.

First came the online phenomenon known as the “elevator game,” and after going viral, it’s no wonder a movie ultimately came into fruition. If you follow the steps correctly, you have to press certain floors inside the elevator (of your choosing) in a particular order, and lo and behold, you may just meet a supernatural entity called “the 5th Floor Woman” and enter the “Red World.”

But before Elevator Game viewers can get a real glimpse into this alleged other universe, we meet a young adult named Becki (Megan Best), who goes solo into an elevator to give it a try — while recording herself for her online fans back home, of course. The tense sequence builds to a terrifying moment where a demonic presence suddenly appears before her, which she can see only on her phone’s selfie cam. Then the opening credits roll, and we’re introduced to the main cast, who may or may not be connected to Becki.

The main storyline centers on a fictitious series of several young adults filming themselves doing scary things and debunking urban legends, all on YouTube for their followers to see. That seems to be the trend these days, between modern-day influencers and social media personalities. Kids these days, am I right?

This particular series, set inside the world of Elevator Game, is hosted by the bombastic Kris (Alec Carlos) and more mellow Chloe (Verity Marks), while pals Izzy (Madison MacIsaac), Matty (Nazariy Demkowicz) and Kevin (Liam Stewart-Kanigan) manage things behind the camera. The younglings’ banter is reminiscent of the kids from Stranger Things and Stephen King’s It, even if the acting in Elevator Game isn’t necessarily on par with those titles.

Elevator Game Movie Poster (2023)

Elevator Game (2023)

Directed by: Rebekah McKendry
Starring: Gino Anania, Megan Best, Alec Carlos, Nazariy Demkowicz, Samantha Halas, Madison MacIsaac, Verity Marks, Adam Hurtig, Darren Wall, Bradley Sawatzky, Hazel Wallace, Liam Stewart-Kanigan
Screenplay by: David Ian McKendry, Travis Seppala
Production Design by: Chad Giesbrecht
Cinematography by: Brad Crawford
Film Editing by: Chad Tremblay
Costume Design by: Meg McMillan
Set Decoration by: Robb Paraskevopoulos
Art Direction by: Cale Holden, Rachel Kendall
Music by: Kevon Cronin
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Shudder
Release Date: February 7, 2023 (United States)

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