There are some films out there which came about on a simple idea or pitch. The subject of this week’s film review, Fall, is based on one such idea. What if two young girls who enjoy extreme climbing got stuck on top of a tall tower in the middle of nowhere and how would they survive? It’s an enticing idea and one that the film has to base 90 minutes of story around too. Most ideas like this end up failing or not delivering, or even worst it’s just a “gimmick” to get audiences to see the film. You could argue that Fall does feel like a “gimmick” movie, but luckily thanks to some impressive effects, a strong script and great chemistry between the actors, they just about pull it off.
The story of Fall is simple, two young adults, Becky and Shiloh, are mourning the death of Becky’s husband Dan, and years later they begin to move on by doing what they do best by scaling tall structures and reaching the top. They’re part adrenaline junkies and part extreme sports vloggers. This leads them to the top of a 2,000 foot radio tower in the middle of nowhere that is just begging to be climbed despite how rickety and old it is. You can probably guess what happens next. The tower is falling apart but not fully, only enough to leave these two girls stranded at the very top where the air is colder and no way of getting food or water.
Survival thrillers often stumble amid some genre tropes, which this film does include, such as a sense of delirium with the lack of any water or food to survive off, the passing of time proving a strenuous way of how long they’re stuck up there and some dizzying camera tricks to show how disorientating it can be to be stuck in such a remote spot and location. There are some twists and turns along the way but the crux of the story is the chemistry between best friends Becky and Shiloh. Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner pull their weight as they both struggle to cope with grief as secrets are unfolded and regrets start spilling out. What follows is a tense story where you don’t know whether these two will actually survive to the end.
The filmmaking and cinematography really do capture the vertigo feeling of being on top of an old radio tower. If you’re not a fan of heights then you will not enjoy this film, and I would know as I am scared of heights! I did enjoy the film but I did have to look away a few times, especially since I watched it on a large screen which helped immerse myself within the experience. I do think though that if I watched the film on a smaller screen I would've probably have had a more different experience and wouldn’t have been as immersed with all the wide camera angles and high angled shots. Fall is a film made and designed to be seen on the biggest screen possible. I would even suggest watching it in IMAX, if you’re feeling brave enough, as the film feels big enough and impressive enough to make you feel the same fear as the characters.
★★★★☆
4/5
Fall is a film that really shouldn’t work, and it possibly wouldn’t work as well on a TV or iPad screen, but it does. That is thanks to the cinematography, the tense script and the atmosphere of uncertainty with lots of moving pieces happening in the story where you are unsure if the characters will survive, especially with a lot of obstacles in their way. Fall succeeds in what it sets out to do. If you’re afraid of heights or are prone to vertigo then stay clear but you will be missing out on one of the most immersive films of the year!
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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