Fall: Film Review
I didn’t think I had a fear of heights but that was certainly tested by the vertigo-inducing survival thriller Fall, which is primarily set at the top of a 2,000ft tower.
The film follows Becky (Grace Caroline Currey), a widow whose life ground to a halt after she saw her husband Dan (Mason Gooding) fall to his death in a rock climbing accident almost a year before. Her best friend Hunter (Virginia Gardner), a daredevil YouTuber, returns home after months of travelling and convinces Becky to get out of the house and join her on her next adventure – climbing a 2,000ft comms tower in the middle of the California desert. The rusty, abandoned structure (based on a real tower) isn’t as safe as they think – and they find out the hard way.
Fall mostly takes place on a small metal platform that can only just fit two people 2,000ft up in the air. Director Scott Mann delivers an immersive experience as we feel like we’re right there alongside the girls, exposed to the elements, unable to call for help or lay down to sleep. The downward-looking camera shots are thrilling and stomach-churning and any time Becky or Hunter stood without holding onto the support pole, I freaked out and internally yelled at them to grab onto it.
I wondered how a concept like this – which is admittedly quite absurd – could sustain a 107-minute movie. Surely, it would just run out of steam once they get stuck up there? Thankfully, there is plenty of problem-solving to keep the leads busy and there is some juicy drama between them up there. These conversations are punctuated by nail-biting death-defying stunts as they try out a new solution as well as the possibility of rescue from passersby and vulture encounters. There is also an interesting twist late in the game that I didn’t see coming.
I naively assumed that Fall was shot on a green screen so I was impressed to learn that it was filmed practically on a 60ft tower so the leads are genuinely exposed to the strong winds and daylight. Shooting the film this way helps make it feel more real and immersive. Given that the movie only had a $3 million budget makes the feat even more respectable.
Currey and Gardner work wonderfully together as a team here. Their characters’ personalities contrast enough to make it interesting and we are given enough backstory to get invested in their survival. The roles are really physically demanding and they did most of the stunts themselves so they deserve high praise for that. Also, keep an eye out for Jeffrey Dean Morgan in a small role as Becky’s kind and concerned dad.
You have to suspend your disbelief with Fall but the high concept is well executed and I enjoyed it a lot.
In cinemas from Friday 2nd September