Elevator Game

After his sister vanishes, socially awkward teen Ryan becomes obsessed with a whispered online dare called The Elevator Game. Legend says a carefully timed elevator ritual can push you into another dimension, but it comes with a price. When Ryan discovers that his sister once tried it on the night she disappeared, he decides to replicate the procedure to learn what happened and to search for her. The plan unfolds in a dim hotel shaft where the characters must follow a strict sequence, monitor the signals, and endure unsettling messages from beyond. The tension builds as the past collides with dangerous consequences. Seeking clues, he questions neighbors, cross reads online threads, and repeats the ritual in his mind, unsure if he chases a memory or a malevolent mirror.

Directed by Rebekah McKendry, Elevator Game frames Travis Seppala's screenplay around the online Elevator Game folklore. The 2023 horror release uses tight set design and restrained dialogue to heighten dread in confined spaces. The camera lingers on locked doors, stairwells, and humming hallways, with practical effects and sound design guiding the fear.

Worldwide box office totals $302,271, indicating a modest, niche release within the horror market and a dedicated if small audience that tracks streaming and festival titles, rather than broad theatrical impact.

Critics and viewers offered mixed notes, praising the setup and performances by Gino Anania and Verity Marks while noting the film's familiar horror framework. Audience reaction sits around 4.918/10 from 189 votes, with discussions about grief and the lure of online myths. Its measured pace relies on atmosphere rather than jump scares.

As of now there are no major awards or nominations listed for Elevator Game, which underscores its status as a niche horror title rather than a mainstream contender. Fans of the subgenre may cite its restrained approach as a study in atmosphere for genre fans.