Fall

There’s a thin thread from Fall to The Ledge in that the reason for the protagonist’s decision to scale vast heights is the loss of a loved one and the need for closure. That though is pretty much it as in the former the decide to climb a 2000-foot telegraph tower the latter a challenging mountain pursued by psychopaths.

And Fall is actually quite simple though does provide some more psychological insight into the women climbing up the tower. This is to scatter the ashes of Dan (Mason Gooding) who a year earlier fell off a mountain while climbing with his wife and her best friend.

This led wife Becky (Grace Fulton) into a downward spiral of depression and booze. Until her friend Hunter (Virginia Gardner) turns up who is now a thing on social media sees this an opportunity to get Becky out of her rut and for her to build up her following and suggests tackling an antenna in the middle of nowhere. Initially reluctant and actually scared to Becky agrees.

Finally reaching the location they are taken aback by the sheer height of the structure. Not much more than a wide metal pole the ladder has a surrounding cage for part of the way then, open to the elements and with satellite dishes to pass before reaching the very small platform at the top. And that’s where the problems start.

The trailers and poster hint but nothing really quite prepares the viewer for the astonishing scope of this film as the friends become brutally aware of their situation. Director Scott Mann and co-writer Jonathan Frank provide glimpses of problems to come with shots of rusting ladders and loose bolts with vultures circling to edge up the tension.

But when it finally all comes together it’s gut-wrenchingly terrifying from a physical perspective, the camera work is breath-taking wringing suspense from every angle of the tower. And Mann and Frank don’t provide any outlet on the psychological side either which is as intense as the various attempts to resolve their situation.

Full marks to Fulton and Gardner for their compelling performances as they cope with the physical and mental distress of their situation. If you can see it (and handle it on a big screen) the experience is probably like something you have never had before in a cinema.

Note this review was for the presentation of Fall at FrightFest on 29 August. Fall will be in UK cinemas from 2 September.