A Thrilling Descent: ‘Fall’ Exceeds Expectations
Fall’ flies under the radar, but it’s a hidden gem worth discovering. I saw that it had a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so I didn’t think it would be terrible. However, I didn’t think it would be as good as it actually was. If you haven’t watched ‘Fall’, you’re missing out on a great film.
The film follows two best friends, Shiloh (played by Virginia Gardner) and Becky (played by Grace Currey), who love thrill-seeking adventures, specifically climbing mountains. Tragedy strikes early on in the film when Becky’s husband has a freak accident while climbing and falls to his death. Despite the tragic loss of Becky’s husband, the two friends recklessly pursue their climbing obsession. They tackle an abandoned radio tower 2,000 feet in the air. This decision puts them in grave danger when the rusty ladder breaks.
Before you know it, they’re back at it. Shiloh is the friend encouraging Becky to hop back into the sport she tried to leave behind after her husband’s death. Becky requires very little convincing to reignite their passion for climbing. But that’s not all! These girls become so numb to the thrill of being high up that it’s no longer enough. They take selfies on top of the radio tower while holding each other by one hand, hanging 2,000 feet in the air. This indicates their level of trust for each other.
With the ladder now severed from the tower, the two friends face a daunting new challenge. They must find a way to escape their 2,000-foot-high perch. Suddenly, their motivations flip. Instead of seeking to climb as high as they can, they become increasingly desperate to find a way down from the tower. It is located in the middle of the desert, abandoned, and no one can hear them from that high up.
Their first chance at getting down comes when a guy decides to camp his trailer out in the desert. As the sun sets, they fire a flare from a rusted box on the tower. They hope against hope that someone will see it and come to their rescue. The camper below exploits their desperation. He uses the flare as a chance to swipe their car and abandon them to their fate.
As the hours tick by, the girls must dig deep and use their wits to survive the onslaught of torrential rains, lightning storms, and scavenging vultures. They’re also forced to contend with the psychological mind games that come with extreme dehydration, starvation, and isolation. But just when you think you know where the story’s going, the movie throws in a twist that’s both shocking and satisfying. I won’t give it away, but let’s just say it’s a real game-changer. The screenwriter and directors were great at crafting surprises. Just when you thought the movie reached a climax, you were wrong. Each climax became more thrilling and shocking throughout.
In fact, it’s time to end this review, as I enjoyed the movie so much that I risk spoiling it at this point. I highly recommend that you see “Fall”. It definitely exceeded my expectations.
