Review: Fall

Directed by: Scott Mann

Written by: Scott Mann & Jonathan Frank

Starring: Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Mason Gooding, Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Rating: [3/5]

Everyone has their hobby; an activity that they enjoy as a pastime. Some like to watch films, like yours truly, while others like to endanger themselves for the pure rush of adrenaline it gives them. I prefer to enjoy my hobby from my couch or a movie theater but in Fall we have two characters who would prefer to climb a 2,000 ft decommissioned radio tower. To each their own but I would say the latter makes for a more entertaining story to watch, which is what we get here. 

Still traumatized after the death of her husband during her latest thrill-seeking adventure of climbing a mountain, Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) gets approached by friend Shiloh (Virginia Gardner) about climbing a radio tower. Initially hesitant and reluctant to participate, Becky decides to partake, even with the dangers that come with it. 

Fall knows exactly the type of film it wants to be, a story where two people try something fairly crazy and must do what they can to get out of the situation. As one could imagine, this story does not make for comfort viewing, particularly for those who have acrophobia, or a fear of heights. One, getting up there would be frightening but given this radio tower sits there untended and decommissioned, it obviously indicates neglect in its maintenance. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that something goes wrong with the ladder they used to get to the top of this 2,000 ft tower. Now abandoned at the very top with no cell service, and no safe way to get down, it comes down to pure survival instincts as these two must put their heads together and find a solution before they perilously starve or dehydrate. 

With these two characters spending the majority of the runtime stranded at the top of this tower, it allows them plenty of time to not only reconnect, but also learn new things about each other. Of course some drama gets sprinkled in there that combines well with the general anxiety of this circumstance to further raise the stakes of everything going on. Having some disconcerting interpersonal issues between the characters almost becomes necessary for creating a captivating narrative given there’s not much else happening around them. 

Having plenty of time to brainstorm and figure out a way out of this circumstance, this feature does display what makes thrill-seeking individuals such as these characters risk their lives for completing these feats. It provides a thrill unlike anything else, and somewhat feels like defying death by putting themselves in such perilous positions. Given the tragedy that occurred not too long ago for Becky, there’s a distinct emotional importance of completing this trial that carries so much significance to her. It’s what makes her survival something the audience can attach themselves to in an emotional manner beyond the basic empathy audiences have for protagonists within a film. That along with the relationship she has with her father, Becky makes for a strong character to follow through this journey of survival. 

Given everything mentioned before, there’s an obvious leanness to this story, which makes it a bit comical how it finds ways to overstay its welcome somehow. That fact this film pushed almost two hours with not much to it demonstrates there was plenty of room to cut down within the story because the runtime could certainly be felt. This happens particularly as we get towards the ending, where it becomes much more evident that this movie had no right going over the 90-minute mark, and yet it just kept on going. 

As high concept as a premise can get, Fall provides the base entertainment one would want when they hear about a story of two individuals stuck atop of an old radio tower. Even with its runtime making the story a bit more verbose than it should have, there’s still plenty to enjoy with this film. This appears beyond the visceral fear of the circumstance but combines it with this personal journey for Becky as she seeks to overcome both the physical and emotional hurdle put forth before her. Grace Caroline Currey does a strong job in conveying everything Becky feels as this film progresses and she stands out as its brightest spot.