Fall (2022) Movie Review

Scott Mann’s latest horror film, “Fall,” belongs to the trapped horror subgenre, much like “The Shallows” and “Open Water.” However, Mann and co-writer Jonathan Frank take a unique approach, setting their film thousands of feet in the air rather than in the middle of deep water. While the concept is clever and initially creates a tense atmosphere that should be avoided by anyone with even the mildest vertigo, the execution ultimately falls short. Ineffective acting, editing, and other technical choices all contribute to this film being a misfire. Instead of crashing to earth, it simply drifts off into the forgettable air of film history.

The film opens with Becky (Grace Caroline Currey), her husband Dan (Mason Gooding), and Becky’s best friend Hunter (Virginia Gardner) climbing a sheer mountain face. Tragedy strikes when Dan plummets to the ground below. A year later, Becky is drowning her grief in alcohol, avoiding Hunter and her concerned father, James (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). One day, Hunter comes to Becky with a proposal. They’re going to climb an abandoned 2,000-foot TV tower, from which they will spread Dan’s ashes and find closure. However, things take a turn for the worse, leaving Becky and Hunter stranded on top of the tower with no way down and no means of communication.

Filmed in the Mojave Desert, the vast majority of “Fall” takes place on the tower. The film does manage to create some adrenaline with the initial climb and disastrous ladder collapse that follows. However, there’s a better version of the film that starts right with the climb. This way, the characters' trauma can arise through their conversations on the way up, instead of being conveyed through a set-up act that's filled with clichés and poor filmmaking. It would also help to reduce the runtime on a 107-minute movie that should be closer to 87. When Becky and Hunter begin their actual ascent, Mann has his firmest grip on the movie, building tension in a way that can be pretty effective.

Unfortunately, the film begins to falter again. Hunter's secret is more melodramatic than realistic, and vultures and drones get involved, making the movie increasingly silly through its final act. The best “trapped” films rely on realism, making viewers feel like they're actually trapped in the rocky waves of a film like “Open Water,” but “Fall” crumbles under that analysis. Currey and Gardner give committed performances in physical terms; it looks like an exhausting production. However, they're saddled with juvenile dialogue that doesn't capture the terror people would genuinely feel in this situation. In the end, “Fall” only works if we believe the predicament in which Becky and Hunter are trapped. Unfortunately, the thin dialogue, showy cinematography, and overzealous edits betray the potential of this nightmare.

Ultimately, “Fall” has been designed to be seen on as big a screen as possible. This is why Lionsgate is going wide with it this weekend instead of shuffling it off to VOD. Much has been written about getting ticket buyers back into theaters with event movies that demand the theatrical experience. It's too bad this effort to help keep the theater industry afloat will only let viewers down.

Despite its flaws, "Fall" does have some strengths. One of them is its unique setting. The idea of being trapped on top of a tall tower with no way down is certainly terrifying and offers a different kind of trapped horror experience than what we're used to. The film also benefits from some impressive cinematography and visual effects, particularly in the scenes where we see just how high up Becky and Hunter are. There are moments that will make your palms sweat and your heart race, and those looking for a tense, suspenseful thriller will find some enjoyment in "Fall."