Review of Fall (2022): A Horror/Survival Film Not for Those with Acrophobia
Fall (2022), released in August, falls into the survival/horror genre. With a production budget of $3 million, the film focuses on survival skills and the psychological shifts people experience in life-threatening situations. The film’s premise is quite simple, concentrating on survival and the mental transitions of its characters.
The film’s setting, which occupies two-thirds of its runtime, is literally confined to a 610-meter-high tower. To compensate for the limited setting, director and screenwriter Scott Mann employs dynamic and varied camera angles to keep the narrative engaging, while emphasizing the peril faced by the protagonists.
The film holds a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic. Its box office revenue has approached $10 million after nearly a month of release. Fall (2022) can be considered worth watching based on its content.
Plot
Fall (2022) revolves around two main characters, Becky and Shiloh Hunter. Becky is married to Dan, who dies in a climbing accident. The three of them are avid adventurers with a penchant for tackling dangerous locations. After Dan’s death, Becky drowns her sorrows in alcohol, becoming distant and irritable towards her grieving father. Desperate, her father asks Hunter, her close friend, to visit Becky and help her cope.
Hunter, who has become a social media star with over 60,000 followers, returns to comfort Becky. In contrast to Becky’s despondency, Hunter brings a fearless, confident, and even reckless spirit. She convinces Becky to climb a 2000-foot-high (610 meters) radio tower, imagined as the fourth tallest structure in the U.S.
After successfully scaling the tower and scattering Dan’s ashes, the two attempt to return along the same path. However, the way back collapses, forcing them to face both physical and mental shocks as they struggle to survive. Becky discovers that Hunter had an affair with her deceased husband, while Hunter realizes too late that her skills and recklessness cannot guarantee a better outcome.
Review
Fall (2022) excels in portraying the intense survival experience of Hunter and Becky over four days. The two devise consistent solutions to stay alive while trapped at the tower’s peak. The performances by Grace Caroline Currey (Becky) and Virginia Gardner (Hunter) and the film’s visual effects are compelling. Whether or not you fear heights, the film’s realism will make you feel the tension in your limbs.
The use of panoramic and close-up shots effectively captures the emotional contrast between the confined space and the vast, open sky, evoking a sense of dread. Being trapped is not just about claustrophobia but also the terror of having no escape.
The film reflects societal issues such as the illusion of personal power, the negative impact of social media, and conflicts in love and family. Fall (2022) critiques dangerous trends from social media and the delusion of personal “influence,” highlighting how individuals might endanger themselves for online validation.
