PopHorror Let's Get Scared
In what has been a topsy-turvy year for horror, genre fans are always looking for fresh modern voices and new twists on classic concepts. That can definitely be used to describe Elevator Game, the newest Shudder original movie. Let’s travel down to the first floor of this immersive film and see what makes fans want to lobby for it.
Elevator Game is written by David Ian McKendry (All the Creatures Were Stirring 2018, read our review here) and Travis Seppala (Captive 2023), and directed by Rebekah McKendry (Glorious 2022). It stars Verity Marks (Toys of Terror 2020), Gino Anania (Bring It On: Cheer or Die 2022), and Samantha Halas (in her acting debut). The plot follows a group of vloggers who broadcast an online show in which they go to unique locations to explore supernatural legends for views. But when they need to complete a quick show for their bosses, they decide to try “the elevator game.” The legend says that if you go to certain floors in a particular order, it conjures the “Fifth Floor Woman,” who looks to trap souls in her world forever. But this legend may be too real for the gang to handle.
The first thing that pops out about the script and Dr. McKendry’s direction is how accurate the modern aspects are. A lot of times in current films with young social media workers, the dialogue feels forced and the kids are trying too hard to be relatable. In Elevator Game, the core team all have clear roles, the chemistry feels natural, and the verbiage feels honest for characters in this age range. It’s current without trying to force the fact that it’s current down your throat. The color grading is also vibrant, making the movie easy to watch, and also creating a staunch difference when we start to see the Fifth Floor Woman’s dimension. This film feels like an updated take on a fun game that teenagers goad their friends into playing, much like Ouija or Candyman.
The Fifth Floor Woman winds up with a basic but fair backstory, and all of our main cast have legitimate reasons to play the game. The jump-scares add to the tension without being overdone, and the antagonist’s design is suitably creepy. Elevator Game surely started some world building that doesn’t get fully capitalized on in this movie but does lend itself to keep expanding in the future. While this movie may not be the most complex thing in an era of elevated arthouse horror, it’s a fun flick that’s easy to follow, and marks an occasion to get together in the dark with your friends. Elevator Game is available on Shudder right now and is definitely worth the watch. Just be sure not to get on any elevators afterwards.
