The Lift (1983) - How is this not a parody?

Since 'Jaws' there's been a type of film (mainly horror, I guess) where the protagonist knows some sort of 'deeper information' regarding a potential threat and nobody - especially the person in charge of public safety - believes him.  In 'Jaws' Chief Brody couldn't convince the local town leader to close the beach... and the shark made the most of it.

I only bring this up is because 'The Lift' kind of takes that template... and applies it to a lift.  Yes, there's a 'killer lift.' Now, in 'Jaws' you may be safe on land, but if you went pretty much anywhere in the water you were risking your life.  However, with the lift, the 'threat' is kind of confined to - um - a lift shaft in - um - a building.  If you don't use the lift, you're pretty much safe.

Therefore, the film makes as many characters go near the lift and literally stick their heads through the doors in order for the deadly piece of - barely moving - machinery to do away with them.

So, at the end of the day, I really found it hard to really take this film seriously if all you need to do to survive is use the stairs.  I did once watch a horror film about a lift.  I actually quite enjoyed it, but I'll be damned if I can remember what it was - it was about a group of people who were trapped in the lift and I think one of them turned out to be the devil.  I should have watched that.

5/10