Another review of a SXSW 2026 title, coming out of the documentary features arena, The Ascent seemed like an absolute no-brainer for myself, a disabled film critic. Here’s a film seemingly about a bilateral amputee climbing Kilimanjaro. Admittedly, I was a little surprised they weren’t running with audio description yet, as typically films in the disability wheelhouse are more in tune, but this film did answer my query with a “yet”, which leads me to be optimistic. Basically, it’s like your boyfriend promising he will propose to you, he’s just looking for the right moment. Some moments never come, or some come with a multitude of reminders.

The main focus of The Ascent is on Mandy Horvath, who from my simple research has her at 32, and she’s already lived a life. Truly, I thought I was in for Free Solo: inclusive Edition, but nope. That is not this film. While all the critics who are talking about this film being full of sunshine, joy, and feel good moments of triumph of the human spirit and heart, it is just as equally disturbing, unnerving, and jaw dropping for a whole different reason.

Now that I’m on the other side, I hesitate to call The Ascent purely a disability doc. While it does feature Mandy conquering Kilimanjaro by climbing with her hands, elbows, and hips, as she does not wear prosthetics for the climb, the majority of the movie plays like a lost episode to Unsolved mysteries. Mandy has a backstory that is stunning. I would imagine even in a community of amputees, they’d tilt their heads at Mandy and give that agog look. I do not want to spoil it, in part because it is interesting to discover as presented, but also because it is just creepy at times. And it isn’t really meant to be, since this is a triumph of the human spirit documentary. But, when you listen to Mandy talk about the night she lost her legs, it is absolutely stunning.

Then, they bring in others to shape and flesh out the investigation. A career police detective criticizes the cops that were initially investigating, and the driver who spotted Mandy saw some chilling and very telling stuff just off to the sides in the woods. Basically, to make things more horrifying, there’s a huge gap in her memory. She was at a bar with some friends, walked outside, and then basically woke up in an ambulance. In that period of time, her legs were violently taken from her.

this is a true crime/sports/disability hybrid and this is totally the kind of thing I could see winding up being picked up by a streaming platform who will eat up the true crime element of the documentary. Coming at it from the disability side, it can be hard to push being an inspiration on an individual, but it kind of comes with the camera. when you turn your climb into a feature, along with that I expect to see a bit more training, a bit more focus on how you climb, how much you do. As interesting and horrifying as Mandy’s story is, I wanted the split to be in favor of the ascent, and while I didn’t sit there with a timer, it does feel like the split favors the mystery.

Aside from that, I won’t soon forget this feature. I doubt it comes near the Oscar’s, but it is the kind of thing that if platformed by a streamer like Netflix, could have millions of people talking about Mandy’s story the same way they do every other true crime story on the service.

Two things can be true. The Ascent can be life affirming, but it can also be shocking, unnerving, and horrifying. Prepare to feel all the emotions.

Fresh: 8.2/10