Three years prior, Reapers emerged from underground, decimating 95% of the human population. Survivors found refuge in high-altitude areas above 8,000 feet, as the Reapers do not venture into these elevations. Will and Hunter reside in Lost Gulch Refuge in Colorado’s Front Range. Hunter suffers from a lung disease, and their isolation is compounded by neighboring communities conserving resources, limiting communication to flag signals.
Facing a shortage of oxygen filters essential for Hunter’s survival, Will plans a perilous journey below the safety line to procure supplies. He persuades Nina, a former scientist who once collaborated with his late wife, Tara, to join him. Nina is researching the Reapers’ weaknesses, aiming to develop a method to combat them. Katie, a determined young woman, also joins the expedition.
The trio navigates treacherous terrains, including an old mining tunnel that dips below the safety line, rendering Nina’s Reaper-detecting device ineffective. They encounter Reapers, leading to intense confrontations and the tragic loss of Katie. Nina hypothesizes that the Reapers’ scales produce magnetic defense mechanisms and experiments with bullets laced with a magnesium/cobalt mixture. She successfully kills a Reaper, revealing that they are advanced alien machines rather than biological entities.
Armed with this knowledge, Will and Nina return to Lost Gulch Refuge. They signal other mountain communities about the discovery, prompting a coordinated effort to arm themselves with the specialized ammunition. The film concludes with Nina observing new ‘meteorites’ entering Earth’s orbit, suggesting an ongoing extraterrestrial threat.
“Elevation” explores themes of survival, resilience, and the human spirit’s determination to reclaim its place in a hostile world. The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising its tension and premise but noting its slow pacing and reliance on familiar tropes.
