Altitude (2010) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

Canada, USA 2010
Director: Kaare Andrews
Cast: Jessica Lowndes, Julianna Guill, Ryan Donowho, Landon Liboiron, Jake Weary
Rating: R
Release Date: 19 October 2010 (DVD)
Running Time: 1 hour 26 minutes

The Movie Review

Altitude film still 1


ALTITUDE
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Altitude is still playing in Indonesia, precisely in Yogyakarta. While it isn't exactly such one heckuva excellent movie but it might be amusing enough for undemanding casual moviegoers :-)

Five young guys and gals are flying in a small plane with one of them as the pilot. They simply want to spend some time in a music concert but feeling too lazy traveling on land. Lucky (or unlucky) for them, Sara (Jessica Lowndes of Autopsy (2008)) is an experienced pilot although she has a terrible past of losing her mother (who's also-a-pilot) in a plane accident. She brings along her own boyfriend, Bruce (Landon Liboiron), who acts strange all the time and becomes the bully target of Sal (Jake Weary) the a*shole of the group who surprisingly has an understanding and kind girlfriend, Mel (Julianna Guill of Friday the 13th (2009)). The last one is an amateur climber Cory (Ryan Donowho) who seems to has a crush on Mel but curbing it.

On what appears to be a fine flight suddenly changed into a nightmare when they are trapped in a storm and the plane has malfunction components on some parts. It gets worse when Sara seems to lose control of any information whatsoever about their whereabouts on air. Is it a normal storm? If it does, then why the storm seems never-ending? And why does one of them hears loud growling sound on air?

For a Direct-to-Video movie taking on multiple themes such as disaster, thriller, horror and even fantasy, the story is actually pretty decent. I actually like it, even though watching it in cinemas would be something discuss-able if there are still other options. The biggest drawback however is the characters. Altitude has these colourful characters like a rainbow after the rain, but probably it's a rainbow over a smelly ditch because it reeks! What a bunch of irritating people!

The coward one is too cowardice, the pilot is irresponsible, the jock is too annoying and brutal. At one time you've got this feeling of wanting the jock (Sal) to die in pain, but at one time you just wishing the jock to beat the crap out of the totally whining-whimpering-pathetic coward (Bruce). If it meant by the writer to stir up your emotion, you got that screenwriter! But next time probably please tone down the level of annoyance or even better, give us better story. Although admittedly I prefer these irritating characters instead of feeling bored over mundane characters we often see in other direct to videos. But do note that the actors are not to blame, they perform excellent as scripted. In fact this movie feels more like a showcase of acting talents for these young actors. In fact these five actors are so good in articulating their emotions that I wish they'll be cast in A-class slashers or other horror films pertaining young folks. It's rare to have such talents in one place.

But pertaining the story... Hmmm, it reaches one point when I wanted to scream out loud "Where The Heck is the horror?!" What makes me keep on watching is actually not the horror, not at all. Aside of appearing only for maybe a few minutes, the "main villain AKA the beast AKA the air-kraken AKA the fugly floating giant octopus", is not scary at all. This movie excels in the conflict between the characters, their drama, emotions, fight, love, panic, desperation and sacrifice and hope. The story mixed them excellently! Thankfully there are also some action scenes although far-fetched, and something that would make Fear Factor winners give it four thumbs up!

Anyhow like I said before, it would be a great film to kill your time with. Altitude has no considerable gore and zilch nudity but it does great without those shock elements.