Level 16

'Level 16' is one of those films where the review shouldn't be too long. That's because, if you ask, 'So... what's the film about?' you can't really say too much without giving away vital plot points. The whole reason you'll watch this film is to find out what's happening.

We join a 'school' of young girls as they - er - 'graduate' to the final year of their educational institution, aka 'Level 16.' The reason I use so many quote marks around words is because this isn't your average American high school. There's something very amiss.

Only giving away mild clues (that you'll get from the early parts of the movie) are that the girls are hardly 'enlightened' and seem to be 'taught' by a single teacher and a load of videos which push 'cleanliness' at all costs. The outside world is never seen, but there's the ever 'exciting' promise that adults will one day come for the girls and adopt them into their new, perfect families.

Now, naturally we - the viewers - can see that something very bad is happening here. You'll ask yourselves question like, 'Is there even a world out there? Has there been some sort of alien takeover and the girls are merely human sacrifices?' and 'What's the deal with keeping the youngsters so clean?' All are valid questions and - don't worry - whatever you think is going on will eventually be explained to a satisfying conclusion by the end of the movie.

The stars of the film are - mainly - the young girls and - sometimes - having less experienced actors carrying a film can lead to lesser performances. Luckily, all play their parts well and lead actress, Katie Douglas, could well be one to watch in the future.

So, assuming you enjoy watching the film through to the end, the only real flaw is that you can only ever watch it the once and not know what's coming. Even if you love it (and it's certainly very watchable!) I can't see much point in re-watching it any time in the (near) future, as you'll know everything that's coming. Definitely one to watch, but not one to re-watch very soon afterwards.

Although this story is not a new idea, it is still an interesting premise and the presentation and acting along with good direction makes this film a worthy watch. The camera use and cinematography is bleak and dark, with the use of hazy bright lights used to accentuate the shadows. The music score was perfect and added to the various scenes. The plot plugs along at a fairly decent pace for those movie watchers that don't get bored easy. It is a simple and pretty strait forward movie with few surprises. The themes of friendship, loyalty, courage and greed are well portrayed by the end of the movie. There are some plot holes, yes, but again, the great acting, and the interesting theme brought me thru the movie and allowed me to set aside those inconsistencies and just enjoy what was in front of me. If you find it difficult to set aside your disbelief or if plot holes keep you from enjoying an otherwise well made movie, I admit this film would not be for you. (Or if you are into action films or horror/slasher films). As for me, this was an excellent small budget movie!!

This film is about a facility in which young girls are taught to be clean, virtuous and obedient. This is all done with the promise of becoming the type of girl families will want to adopt. However, things are not as they seem and the reality is far more sinister than they could possibly imagine.

Not a bad film. It is filmed well and the acting is decent. The story unfolds at a slow pace but it helps in building suspense. I wasn't too crazy about the setting even though it was suited to the situation. It isn't amazing but as I said, it's not bad.

This film is set inside a strange institution. It is populated by young girls who are schooled to be obedient and clean; but not how to read or write. They are there from babyhood to the age of sixteen; each year moving to the next level... they are promised that after Level 16 they will be adopted by caring, wealthy families. They have never seen the sun as they have been told the world outside is polluted. They are also heavily guarded and sleep in locked dormitories.

One day Vivian is warned by another girl, Sophia, not to take her daily vitamin pill; that night all the other girls quickly fall into a deep sleep... Vivian is about to start learning the true nature of the 'school'. The more that is learnt the more disturbing it is for her. Knowing the truth is one thing; getting out will be another.

I really enjoyed this film; it had me gripped from the opening moments to the final scene. It is safe to say most viewers will guess that the school isn't quite what it seems but the truth isn't too obvious. The location is great; just a few rooms and a linking corridor for the most part... this emphasises the claustrophobic nature of the girls' world. Not seeing the outside keeps the viewer in the dark about many things; we don't even know when it is set... the old films the girls watch and certain items make it look as if it could have been set anytime from over fifty years ago to sometime in the future. The cast is impressive; especially Katie Douglas who really shines as Vivien. There are also notable performances from Sara Canning as Miss Brixil, the woman who appears to run the establishment; Peter Outerbridge as Dr Miro; and Celina Martin as Sophia. There isn't too much in the way of violence and gore although there are one or two disturbing scenes. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of thoughtful films that don't require expensive special effects or a big name cast.

Level 16 was better than I expected. Maybe it's not a very original story, you might get a déjà-vu, but overall it was an entertaining movie. A slow build-up, but that only adds to the thrill and mystery, a dark story slowly unfolded. It was a bit of a predictable ending but even then it's still worth watching, especially if you're just looking for some easy mindless entertainment. It's not a high budget but you can't really tell, and it's not necessary either. The cast is well chosen, all characters were convincing in their parts. Level 16 is a decent movie in this genre.