- Film Title: Level 16
- Directed and written by Danishka Esterhazy, the film stars
- Cast for Level 16: Katie Douglas plays Vivien, with Celina Martin as Sophia, Peter Outerbridge as Dr. Miro, Sara Canning as Miss Brixil, and Alexis Whelan as Ava.
- Produced by Markham Street Films.
- Premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2018 and was released in March 2019.
- Distributed by Dark Sky Films and watched for editorial purposes as a screener.
- Age Rating: 14A for Canada and 16 for Germany and the Netherlands
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Level 16 Film Review
There is much to like about the Level 16 movie. It’s certainly one of those new sci-fi movies that make you think they are something else. Directed and written by Danishka Esterhazy, the film takes place in a boarding school. In this private school, there are only female pupils, and they’re all eagerly awaiting adoption when they complete the levels. Each level shows a new kind of compliance they need to achieve.
The set is beautifully minimalistic, with a stark palette with barely any color applied to all those that inhabit the boarding school. When Miss Brixil (played by Canning) is introduced to the mix, she stands out; she wears makeup and makes a clear divide between those in the room and herself. Even her hair, fake and the blondest of blondes, announces a dire double standard between what is being taught and what is in front of them.
Level 16 Plot
Level 16 is a sci-fi movie. It begins with a group of very well-behaved girls locked away in a prison-like environment designed to look like a boarding school. Or at least that’s what these students are led to believe. The girls are shown propaganda that instills a value system.
Beyond the Facade: The Stark Realities of Vestalis Academy
Being labeled a science fiction film gave away that there is indeed a larger picture at play. Level 16 takes advantage of this genre label by making you think it’s something it’s not. It asks you to look for clues if you’d at least gone in thinking something is not right here. The Level 16 ending leaves you with no doubt why these girls are the way they are. Subsequently, there are a lot of little details in this film that makes it an above-average made-for-television movie. Nothing that will blow your socks off, but neat and tidy at the very least.
The story itself is not unique, and I can think of several films that reminded me of this one. I’d love to rattle a few of them off, but if you really want to enjoy this film, it’s best I don’t. Even though the ideas have been done in similar ways, I quite liked how the characters were the focal point.
I thought there was a clever use of elements that seemed to scream loudly about sisterhood. Overall, it’s a worthy film that deserves your attention.
Level 16 movie is rated
3.5 Who called the cops? out of 5
Rules for the Level 16 2018 | Feminist Dystopian Sci-Fi:
A hidden gem, Level 16 is an excellent sci-fi movie example of movies in boarding schools, and this one has some very creepy rules and regulations.
- They must remain clean, exercise patience, and never show anger.
- A loudspeaker announces a daily vitamin regimen that must be completed under the watchful eyes of a video camera.
- Punishment is swift, of course, and there are numerous methods on hand to show the girls if they are in the wrong.
About Danishka Esterhazy and Level 16
Danishka Esterhazy wrote and directed Level 16, and she also directed The Banana Splits Movie. It isn’t a true story. She has said the Lowood Institution in Jane Eyre helped inspire Vestalis Academy.
Where to Watch Level 16
Level 16 has streamed on Netflix and Prime Video and turns up free with ads on services like Tubi, and it’s also available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Google Play. Availability changes by country, so check the widget below for what’s live where you are.
Level 16 (2018) Is Streaming On:
“Clean, Obedient, and Nowhere Near as Safe as It Looks.”
Mother of Movies Rating: 3.5/5
Movies Like Level 16 and Other Girls’ Boarding School Horror
- Boarding School is an LGBTQIA+ friendly horror movie that follows Jacob trying to figure out who his Grandmother was.
- School Spirit is part of the Into the Dark series and there’s a whole lot of slashing.
- He Had it Coming is an Australain TV Show set on school grounds with a feminist edge.
