Elevation is a 2024 sci-fi survival thriller directed by George Nolfi, featuring Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin. The narrative unfolds three years after the emergence of formidable insectoid creatures known as “Reapers,” which surfaced from subterranean sinkholes, annihilating a significant portion of the human population. These predators are incapable of ascending beyond 8,000 feet, compelling the remnants of humanity to seek refuge in high-altitude enclaves, such as the Rocky Mountains.

The story centers on Will (Mackie), a single father residing in Lost Gulch Refuge, Colorado, with his son, Hunter, who suffers from a debilitating lung condition. The community’s isolation intensifies as neighboring settlements cease radio communications to conserve power, resorting instead to flag signals. Faced with a dwindling supply of oxygen filters essential for Hunter’s survival, Will resolves to embark on a perilous expedition below the safety threshold to procure the necessary medical supplies. He persuades Nina (Baccarin), a former scientist grappling with the loss of her family to the Reapers, to accompany him on this mission. They are joined by Katie (Maddie Hasson), a resilient neighbor eager to confront the dangers lurking below.

Equipped with Nina’s innovative compass, designed to detect the Reapers’ unique bio-electromagnetic pulses, the trio ventures into treacherous territories. Their journey leads them through abandoned ski resorts, dense forests, and perilous mineshafts, all while scavenging for supplies, including a grenade launcher. A harrowing encounter with a Reaper forces them to seek refuge in an old lodge above the safety line, where Nina theorizes that the creatures are mechanical constructs devoid of biological needs.

The group’s descent into a former mining tunnel proves catastrophic when they are ambushed by a Reaper, resulting in Katie’s tragic death. Undeterred, Will and Nina press on to her laboratory, aiming to develop a weapon capable of penetrating the Reapers’ formidable defenses. Nina’s hypothesis that cobalt-laced bullets could induce internal combustion within the creatures leads to a breakthrough. Her successful elimination of a Reaper using this method confirms their mechanical nature, constructed from advanced alien technology.

Upon returning to Lost Gulch, Will reunites with Hunter, and Nina signals neighboring communities by raising a pirate flag, symbolizing their victory over a Reaper. This act rekindles hope among the survivors, prompting renewed communication and collaboration in the fight against their relentless adversaries. In a post-credit scene, Nina observes three greenish “meteorites” entering Earth’s orbit, hinting at an impending escalation in their struggle for survival.

Elevation presents a high-stakes narrative of resilience and ingenuity, set against the backdrop of humanity’s fight for survival amidst an alien threat. The film explores themes of loss, determination, and the unyielding human spirit in the face of insurmountable odds.