Vivien (Katie Douglas) and her pals at Vestalis Academy are meant to be clean, obedient, humble, and patient (or fucking else…a punishing experience our heroine experienced back on Level 10) as they progress toward their ultimate goal of adoption into a picture perfect home. That threat isn’t the only wonky thing going on at this sinister school as once the girls reach Level 16 it is revealed that while they are a brainy bunch, not a single one of them can read and they are administered sleeping pills disguised as vitamins nightly…in short things are definitely not what they seem at this putrid place and Vivien, along with her friend Sophia (Celina Martin) are going to get to the bottom of it as long as the fearsome Miss Brixil (Sara Canning) doesn’t stop them first!
While a work of dystopian fiction, the themes of Level 16 ring loud and clear in our troubled times where women are often marginalized and expected to conform to societies expectations. The world presented in this film is a chilling one with disobedient “little girls” put in their place through viscous discipline…which if we are honest doesn’t seem too far fetched in the current climate.
While the themes of the picture are solid, the acting present is up to the task of bringing this thriller to life. To that end we get an amazing performance from Canning as the black clad, ruby lipped Brixil; a true force of malevolence (though more sides to the character are revealed as the film plays out) and the opposite number of the inquisitive and daring Vivien (a solid performance here from Katie Douglas as well). It’s a great pairing and makes the film all the better for the players cast, not to mention that visual of the slinky ultra-femme teacher with her grey shirted, plain faced charges.
Also of note is the cold, dreary environments of Vestalis Academy itself, which create the perfect prison aesthetic; all claustrophobia and concrete and in the end that almost become a character in and of itself, and the fact that while definitely containing a strong message, the story (courtesy of Danishka Esterhazy, who also directed) also manages to be vastly entertaining with it’s heavy emphasis on mystery and adventure.
Timely, challenging, full of great acting and an engaging (and surprisingly adventurous) story; Level 16 should not be missed by fans of stories such as 1984 or The Handmaiden’s Tale…it doesn’t paint a picture of a super rosy future, but at the end it’s an entertaining picture all the same!
