Do you ever look up to the stars and wonder if they are just holes in a lid to allow us to breathe? What if our world, and the people in it are just part of a computer program? Levels offers up a well-done film experience…and the ending will surprise you.
Levels
Levels is a Canadian sci-fi thriller. It was written and directed by Adam Stern. The film stars Cara Gee, Peter Mooney, Aaron Abrams, and David Hewlett. Joe (Peter Mooney) owns a bookstore. The timeline, from Joe’s AI assistant and surrounding buildings is sometime in the far future. One day, a woman, Ash (Cara Gee) enters the bookstore and invites Joe out for coffee. They soon fall in love. However, Ash has a dark secret. Before she can reveal it, she is murdered in front of Joe.
Joe loses interest in his shop, his life, and has also become suicidal. His friend Oliver (David Hewlett) tries to console Joe, but the loss of Ash is too much to bear. The man who shot Ash, Hunter (Aaron Abrams) can’t be found. There is a reason for this, and it isn’t until Joe tries to kill himself that we learn Ash’s secret.
Conclusion
Going back to my original question: What if the stars are just holes in a lid? Could they allow us to breathe? What if we are just part of a computer program? Levels is Adam Stern’s first feature length film, and I have to say that Levels is on par with The Matrix franchise, but without all the fighting. This is a compliment.
The film moves at a comfortable pace that allows us to become invested in Joe’s finding Ash. We are offered a love story immersed in solid science fiction. The special effects are impressive. I am not computer savvy, but my adult grandchildren are. My one grandson is creating his own VR program utilizing technology that is akin to The Matrix. I hope that in his program, my grandson is not a sociopath like Hunter, who casually destroys universes just for the joy of it.
Having watched Levels, I would highly recommend watching it. Levels premiers in theatres across Canada on November 1, 2024.
