‘Ascendant’ Is A Gripping Fantasy Thriller Set Almost Entirely In An Elevator
It's essential viewing for anyone who's wanted to see a superhero movie with a bit more grit.
There is no escape. But hidden within her is a secret waiting to get out.
At a time when superhero movies dominate the box office and all of your favourite films from childhood are getting rebooted, it’s not often that a truly unique movie comes along. Ascendant is one of them.
The movie follows Aria Wolf, a young girl who wakes up trapped in a high-speed elevator in a 120-floor building in Shanghai. She has no memory of her past or how she got there, but it doesn’t take her long to realise she’s being held hostage by a mysterious group who want something from her.
As her kidnappers toy with her, Aria begins to realise she has incredible powers lying dormant inside her. Pushed to her limits, Aria knows she has to master her powers to save herself and her family. If you liked Divergent, you’ll love Ascendant – both movies have Big “Powerful Woman Takes Control” Energy, which we simply love to see.
Check out the trailer below:
The fact that most of the movie takes place inside an elevator is actually one of Ascendant’s biggest strengths. It’s claustrophobic, and terrifying to watch Aria’s kidnappers send her plummeting down the building again and again in an attempt to break her spirit.
It’s a refreshing blend of fantasy stories and suspenseful thrillers. It’s also a gorgeous looking movie that definitely benefits from seeing it in cinemas.
Ascendant stars a packed Aussie cast including Charlotte Best (Tidelands, Puberty Blues) as Aria, Jonny Pasvolsky (Westworld, The Front Runner), and Susan Prior (The Rover, The Commons), and is directed by the Aussie-based filmmaker Antaine Furlong. You have to love our country’s pivot to big screen fantasy thrillers!
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Ascendant (M) is in cinemas now. Don’t miss this original, intense fantasy thriller.
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(All images courtesy of Maslow Entertainment)