The Lift

This offbeat thriller from Dutch writer/director Dick Maas made the film festival circuit two years back, went into limited theatrical release...and disappeared. The story centers on a malevolent elevator that has a few nasty habits: it likes to choke, decapitate, and otherwise maim perfect strangers. Felix Adelaar, the lift company's maintenance man, can find nothing mechanically wrong. But when a wisecracking female reporter smells trouble, she and Felix team up (making Felix's wife none too happy) and try to uncover the secret of 'the lift.' Four qualities make this a film worthwhile: vivid characterizations (unusual in the genre), an absolutely wicked sense of humor, minimum gore, and one of the best sheer suspense endings we've seen in quite awhile. However, there is one drawback: the film is dubbed in English. The combination of so-so dubbing with the opening scene of drunk businessmen and their secretaries amorously engaged on the lift had us matching the actors groan for moan. Fortunately, this stylish film manages to rise above its single drawback. Recommended.