Fall

I really had no expectations when I decided to watch this movie but aside from some of the usual predictable moments and boneheaded decisions by the two main characters, I actually enjoyed it. For me that was due to a few observations: 1) there were a few small twists in the plot which was a pleasant surprise especially in this type of movie genre and 2) the camera work/cgi effects which looked quite realistic and really gave you a sense of the height with a little vertigo feeling to boot. If you like this type of movie and don't suffer from major vertigo, this one is definitely worth a watch!

Man, I had no clue what I was in for. The idea is simple (two climbers get stuck atop a 2000-foot tower in the middle of the desert) but the viewer experience is complex. It feels so real. It's meant to feel real. "Fall" is an unapologetically distressing tour de force. Buckle up.

My subject line is a bit cheeky, tho. Yes I'm warning you to be careful- particularly if you're acrophobic because, again, this one pulls no punches. It is intense. But it's also a line the climbers say more often than any other. They keep stating the obvious: "Be careful, Hunter!" "Omg Becky, be careful!" And each time restarts your panic cycle anew: "Oh no, what are they in for now?!" Worse, it's hard to prepare for what's coming. Even when you think you're ready, there's no telling how your body will react to what it sees and fears; logic can't always override instinct. In that sense it's not a movie that provides soft landings (pardon the pun). It is full on *trying to spark a physical response.

Not just when the climbers are on the tower either. It employs other tactics as well. Like repeatedly using an establishing shot with a sign that says "No Trespassing. Danger of Death." So even if you start to (somehow) settle in comfortably, the words push you back out to the edge of your seat. The name of the film works the same way: Fall. Would "Climbing the Ladder," "High," "Alone Together" ("Friends in High Places" lol) or something more hopeful/less dramatic not have been enough? Nope. FALL. The filmmakers make no secret of where they want your mind to be.

In the end, subconscious tools work in tandem with vertigo-inducing visuals to create a fully destabilizing experience: Be careful... Danger of death... Fall. You hear it, see it and feel it. I get sweaty palms just typing it out now, and if I watch again I'll need a new strategy because the thrills are not something you get used to. One of the more electrifying movies I've ever seen.

How this is technologically impressive is one thing. A worthy combination of computer generated images and the real thing. The soundtrack also does not fail. But that's all the package. What matters the most is what's beneath the surface, the contents. Pain and fear of death making someone rediscover their will to live after a personal tragedy. Also, altering their perception of reality, removing idealism, to be more exact. Also, when things go far enough, the plot may surprise the audience. Of course, there can be criticism. There could probably have been fewer shots with the blinding Sun in them. The heroines could have been a bit more resourceful here and there, and they could have been tested even more. But the action takes place in a hot desert and sunlight is a big problem there. No wander the movie gives it strong emphasis. And in a situation like what the movie has, it is way more difficult to think as clear as possible than, say, at home, in comfort. And as for what the main characters go through, especially with the performances delivered, "Fall" works just fine.

This movie was rather hard to watch, not because of the direction or acting, but just because of the sheer intensity of the story. It's not for the weak of heart. I wanted to look away several times rather than see what was going to happen. It's a pretty decent film, just know that if you're squeamish or acrophobic at all, you're probably going to be on the edge of your seat the whole time, probably not feeling too comfortable at times.

If you come into this expecting something really stupid and campy, it actually better than you think. I was surprised at how good the acting is and how genuinely terrifying it was to watch. It had a good pace and makes your heart pound with fear so it basically does its job as a suspenseful thriller. There are interesting twists, even if they are somewhat predictable. It does a lot with what was a small budget and lesser known actors. Yes, it's dumb they climb the tower, yes, you can get hung up on that, but bottom line, it's entertaining.

If you expect a phenomenal Oscar worthy movie, go somewhere else, but if you're looking for movie that genuinely makes you face your fear of heights, this is the movie for you.