When the doors close on an elevator, there is that momentary pinch of fear in our stomachs that almost always seems to accompany it. What’s that groaning sound? Is it going slower? How long will I be trapped in here when it inevitably stops between floors? Now, imagine waking up in an elevator controlled by a Russian mad man. That is the dilemma facing the protagonist, Aria, in Rising Wolf, a claustrophobic thriller set almost entirely in an elevator. 

The strongest aspects lie in the performances of the two leads, Aria (Charlotte Best) and Yaroslav (Alex Menglet) as the Russian villain holding her father hostage while trying to extract information. It’s a physically and emotionally demanding role for Best, who gives a performance that alternates between vulnerable and hopeless to displaying convincing and jaw dropping anger and frustration. Best’s performance is the true bright spot of the movie. Menglet is appropriately menacing and sadistic as Yaroslav, the mysterious antagonist torturing Aria’s father and sending the elevator hurtling up and down at lighting fast speeds. The character is a little bit of a cliche, but Menglet gives a performance that’s watchable and creepy beyond the cliche. 

The effects shots are a very big plus as well. Shots of the elevator careening between floors, the breaks locking and sparks flying, are dynamic and exciting to watch. The high rise building itself, where the elevator is housed, is an imposing and oppressive structure. It adds to the dread and hopelessness of the story. The production value is very high, and it’s clear that a lot of care and time went in to the design and execution of the sets. 

Unfortunately, most of the strengths of Rising Wolf are undone by a weak script. While the launching off point of someone waking up in an elevator and not being sure how they got there is a very strong one, the rest of the story struggles to live up to this great premise. Aria, through no fault of her own, is a passive protagonist. She spends most of the runtime getting tossed around the elevator like a rag doll, or watching helplessly as Yaroslav tortures her father. She occasionally fields a phone call on her cell phone from another man claiming to be her uncle, who offers expository information by way of telling her bits about her and her father’s life before the elevator. 

Because of the repetitive nature of Yaroslav sending the elevator rushing back and forth to harm Aria, the movie moves at a glacial pace. Nothing happens beyond these interactions, and the only time we leave the action in the elevator is for flashbacks where we are given vague information about Aria’s childhood and a sister who may hold answers. Having the elevator be booby trapped, like the rooms in Cube, would have made for a more interesting watch and could have told us more about the character of Aria and how she handles obstacles. Instead, she becomes more of a prop than a character. 

It is strongly hinted that Rising Wolf is a launching point for a franchise. If so, hopefully future stories give Aria more to do and overcome beyond being thrown around an elevator. It’s a visually great film to watch with impressive effects shot, but its lack of story and forward momentum undo it. 

4 out of 10