The Ascent

I was really into this movie. It kept you intrigued on what you think happened but I can say I didn't see what happened coming. I thought it was worth higher than what I gave it right up until about roughly 15-20 minutes left in the movie (I'm not going to say what changed my opinion because I don't want to spoil the movie because it really is worth watching once). You will see the change for yourself, you can't miss it but just because I don't like a turn the movie takes doesn't mean someone else does. Just personally for me that part was dumb but not enough to ruin the movie, just enough to lower the rating a bit IMO.

I thought this was a very interesting movie. Didn't have an all star cast but the actors did really well. I watched it twice back to back. It has a surprising ending.

I don't know if the rumors that this movie had a $20,000 budget are correct or not, but I did just today see an indiegogo campaign page that had raised something like $2,500, suggesting that in fact it was made on a shoestring budget. I know that the digital video revolution and streaming home entertainment have changed everything in terms of accessibility for indie film makers, but this movie really drove that point home for me in a way that no other ever has. I have watched many, many movies that literally cost a thousand times as much and enjoyed them a thousand times less. I wish Roger Ebert had lived to see it.

Also, I wanted to politely take issue with mitchellchristopherlong's quibble about the music playing while the detectives investigate the "Olivia" crime scene. I would argue that the music here serves an important dramatic function, specifically to make us see this scene (which we have seen so many times before in so many different crime shows and movies, inevitably via detectives who are jaded and cynical) with fresh eyes, as the authentic human tragedy that it really is. What the score here says is, "This is a different kind of movie. These are real cops who really see the victim. It's an awful thing to see and it hurts them every time, and they care." In fact, the dialogue literally tells us as much before they go in. "It's not like in the movies," Cardenas says to the reporter. So they're making an effort here to establish a more realistic emotional tone, which is one of the reasons why the left turn into supernatural horror that comes later is so effective.

Tom Murtagh's directorial debut is an excellent and intriguing supernatural-noir film, that keeps you guessing all the way to the end. The story is expertly crafted, and the performances by Miguel Perez and Stephen Buchanan are captivating. If you love Following (1998) and Primer (2004), you'll love The Ascent.

This film is a great example of storytelling and filmmaking that doesn't require big $$ to compel the watcher and create a suspension of disbelief. I was engrossed start to finish. Kudos to the creators, cast and crew.