Is The Lift a Hidden Treasure or Dumpster Fire?
Blu-ray Distributed By: Blue Underground / October 31, 2017
Jimbo’s Take 
(3.5 / 5)
Updates. Remakes. Reboots. Sequels. Prequels. Lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh my!
In film history, directors and producers wishing to update their older work are nothing new. Perhaps the most famous of these “revisions” is that of George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy. The Star Wars trilogy is arguably the poster child for over-meddling. It’s easy to point a finger and shout, “That’s why remakes should not occur.”
However, every once in a while a director succeeds. Few will argue that Michael Mann’s 1995 critically acclaimed masterwork Heat, starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, is among his best films. What few may realize is that it is a remake of his 1989 made-for-TV film Made in L.A. (aka L.A. Takedown) indicating, at least in theory, remakes can work.
Which brings me to Dick Maas’ 1983 Dutch thriller, de Lift (The Lift), and his 2001 Americanized re-make Down (aka The Shaft). Blue Underground has released both films concurrently, with beautiful new 2k restorations, and given buyers a very interesting choice. Do you watch The Lift, Down, both, or neither?
After consuming both of these movies, the question that keeps burning for me is, why remake a film? What is it that drives a filmmaker to want to go back and tinker with something left behind? But before we can even deep dive into that topic, I need to address the elephant in the room.
Yes, this is a killer elevator movie. But wait! It isn’t as stupid as it may sound. Film and TV has been full of creepy tales about inanimate objects somehow springing to life or being possessed by demonic forces. At its best, The Lift/Down reminds me a great deal of a very good episode of The Twilight Zone. And who doesn’t like The Twilight Zone?
After a bizarre elevator accident injures a handful of riders, elevator repairman Felix (Huub Stapel) is called in to investigate and repair the faulty equipment. However, when his inspections find nothing strange, things become more puzzling as new accidents prove deadly.
These events draw the attention of tabloid journalist Mieke (Willeke van Ammelrooy) who begins working with Felix to investigate the mystery surrounding the ghoulish events. What is causing the accidents? Is it an unseen killer rigging the device for his murderous desires? Could dark and supernatural forces be at the root of this evil? Or could there be an even deeper conspiracy at play?
Simply put, The Lift was an absolute joy to watch. From the opening frame, as the synth-pop soundtrack takes hold, you can sense the deeper influences bestowed on Maas by filmmakers like John Carpenter. And like Carpenter’s original horror classic Halloween, The Lift has an independent spirit that gives the film its life and soul.
Like Halloween, The Lift is not without its flaws. Some of the special effects are not as polished, and some of the acting may not be the best. However, at its core there is a very strong script with interesting characters, a decent mystery at play, and very capable directing.
The characters are so very well developed, in fact, that it allows the viewer to set aside the absurdity of a killer elevator plot and ground our reality in the three-dimensional characters he has developed. Our primary protagonist, Felix, is given real life problems. He’s a middle class elevator repairman with a wife who suspects infidelity, and young children who are either too rambunctious or too impressionable. Therefore when the mystery surrounding the elevator hits full speed, we no longer care about its improbability but rather how those events will impact Felix’s personal home life.
Maas strikes perfect balance of suspense, humor, and drama all at appropriate times. It’s clear that the director has budget limitations, but he expertly crafts a solid script and manages the tone so the warts and imperfections are easily overlooked and ignored.
Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire? 
(3 / 5)
| Film: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Video/Audio: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Extras: | (3.5 / 5) |
| Average: | (3.5 / 5) |
Should you watch The Lift?
Absolutely. Blue Underground’s new blu-ray packs an incredible transfer, excellent audio options (Dutch language 5.1 surround, English dub 2.0 stereo), and a ton of great extras (listed below) including director commentary.
And because Blue Underground has gone a step further and also released the companion to The Lift with Maas’ 2001 remake Down, I was incredibly excited to discover how he could expand and improve on his freshman film.
I mean, could you imagine if John Carpenter had remade Halloween? And that will take us Down…
[amazon_link asins=’B074BNZP7G’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’trashmenamaz-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’05f84146-f7e0-11e7-8be7-ffdaf2cb40d8′]Special Features:
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Dick Maas and Editor Hans van Dongen
- Going Up – Interview with Star Huub Stapel
- “Long Distance” – Short Film by Dick Maas (2003, 4 Mins.)
- Dutch Trailer
- U.S. Trailer
- Poster & Still Gallery
- BONUS Collectable Booklet with new essay by writer and filmmaker Chris Alexander
