Level 16 Parent Guide

Vivien (Katie Douglas) is one of several dozen young women attending the Vestalis Academy, a seemingly rigorous (and more than a little cult-y) finishing school. She and her fellow students are taught many lessons about how women should behave to remain “clean.” However, when classmate Sophia (Celina Martin) encourages Vivien to stop taking her nightly “vitamins,” Vivien comes to realize that the Academy isn’t a school at all, and that graduating may have terrifying consequences. Together, Sophia and Vivien plan an escape, but how will they make it past the locked doors? And more importantly, what should they do with the other girls, who don’t yet understand their peril?

Level 16 has many of the features that people commonly associate with “indie” films. The pacing is slow but very consistent, giving the film an almost dreamlike quality. The film’s small budget is obvious, but Level 16 does an admirable job of working within its financial constraints and has a strong, unique visual design despite its limited resources. The colorful lighting is especially helpful here, allowing the filmmakers to create distinct senses of space and different times of day without needing a lot of different sets or effects. The soundtrack is very subtle, and many scenes are played without music of any kind.

Level 16 isn’t a film for everyone, especially those who want movies to move quickly. I don’t think the production’s slow pacing is a drawback; if the story went a mile a minute, you wouldn’t get any of the character development or elegant camera work the movie does so well. The bigger downside to the film is that it’s derivative of films like Get Out, which is a bold move considering how successful that movie has been. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it can spoil some of the suspense.

Level 16 isn’t the most original or daring film in its genre, but it is a well made, solidly acted movie. If nothing else, I found it entertaining and enjoyable, although I do wish it had steered a little more into either the suspense or social criticism elements of its story. While certainly not a children’s movie, given its frightening premise and graphic violence, this is a good low-intensity thriller for teenagers and adults looking for a break from the high-speed action of so many contemporary releases.