How does one overcome physical and emotional challenges?
That is the issue explored in the film Fall (2022) which is titled with a double meaning.
As always, spoilers ahead.
After her husband, Dan, falls to his death in a climbing accident, Becky falls into an alcoholic depression marked with nightmares and isolation from loved ones. Her friend Shiloh, witness to the accident, takes a separate journey in the aftermath, falling into a self-destructive pattern of thrill-seeking in an attempt to cope with her loss.
A year later, in an attempt to cure Becky of her fear and depression, Shiloh shows up and convinces Becky to climb a 2000 ft abandoned TV tower in the Mojave Desert. We later learn Shiloh had an affair with Dan, the guilt of which fuels her behavior.
After reaching the top of the tower and celebrating their achievement, they begin their decent. The rusty hinges and weathered bolts of the tower’s ladder – jarred loose on the way up – break away, leaving them stranded at the top with no food, little water, no cell service, and a drone on low battery.
The movie has everything going for it: The scenic visuals are amazing, the performances are solid, and the story is simple. The extreme-heights-pucker-factor is intense. It’s a perfect template to examine creative problem solving, emotional journeys, and survival techniques; these are all fleshed out wonderfully.
Unfortunately in the film’s final minutes, the rug is pulled out from beneath the viewers’ feet. It’s revealed that a large chunk of the best moments of teamwork actually took place after Shiloh had already died from a short fall onto a satellite dish, fifty-some feet below the top. **eyeroll**
It’s a familiar trope done better in good and bad films like Jacob’s Ladder, The Sixth Sense, Adrift, and 47 Meters Down – the last of which had the same director, by the way. In addition to that, Becky uses Shiloh’s body as a sort of egg-drop challenge vessel to get her phone (and a text for help) to the surface where cell service is available. Truly disturbing.
And if that’s not enough, Becky’s rescue is accomplished completely off-screen; this is the greatest tragedy of this film. Half-way through the movie I was already pondering the complexity of rescue scenarios and was intrigued about how someone would manage to pull it off. I was rooting for them.
I guess the writers came up against the same brick wall, and decided to just skip it all together. Lame.
So, let’s fix Fall.
The Nerd Cut: Fall
First off, let’s address the climbing. Even in the beginning scene the climbing techniques are absurd. So let’s have Dan die while simul-climbing with Becky, and Shiloh is nearby. Becky slips and the rope that attaches them gets pulled violently, taking him for a ride along with her. The rope snags on sharp rocks. Shiloh gets to Becky and manages to secure her, but the rope cuts and Dan falls to his death.
The interim set-up is fine so let’s skip ahead to the moment they get to the Danger No Trespassing sign at the gate, and make some adjustments:
“You realize this is a felony, right?” Becky warns.
“Only if you get caught,” Shiloh dismisses her.
“And when you post it on your YouTube channel?”
“The revenue is worth the risk.”
This time they use an actual climbing rope of 60m (192 ft), clip in frequently, wear proper clothing and gloves, and bring food and adequate safety gear in two backpacks. They also follow basic climbing protocol by telling some climbing buddies what they’re planning to do (who, consequently, tell them they’re nuts).
Once they arrive at the top (where they do have cell phone coverage, because science) they spread Dan’s ashes like in the original, then gear up to descend. The tower ladder breaks off as before, stranding them at the top.
Their initial thought is to call for help but fearing fines, possible criminal charges, and – in Shiloh’s case – damaged reputation, loss of revenue, and lawsuits, they debate the matter. Since they’re both experienced climbers with two ropes and plenty of gear, they decide to try to anchor to the top and rappel down to the highest remaining ladder.
Unfortunately, their ropes aren’t long enough to get them to a stable portion of it, which is now splintered and rickety from all the damage. Becky goes back to the top, showcasing legit climbing techniques like using ascenders, rolling carabiners, and a foot harness for extra leverage (really, it’s a fascinating sport). Exhausted, they eat, rest, and try to formulize another plan.
Next they try the same tactic with one climber using both rope lengths, to no avail. Becky is in good spirits despite the predicament.
“You and Dan were always getting me wrapped up in these situations,” she says, laughing at the memories. “But you guys always figured a way out. I could always trust you. I was the screwup.”
As in the original version, guilt and shame overwhelm Shiloh and she breaks down, confessing the affair.
After going through a carousel of emotions Becky realizes she just wants to get out of there and never see Shiloh again, so she suggests another tactic: strapping together on opposite sides of the tower while coiling the rope around it, then using their weight to shimmy down. [Note: This seems like a really bad idea to me, but multiple people suggested it in comments sections for this film so I figured I’d throw it in]
This seems to work for a few dozen feet but sharp, rusty points from where the ladder used to attach to the tower are too difficult and dangerous to get the rope over without fraying it. They’re also exhausted and emotionally spent. Becky becomes adamant that they call for help. Shiloh, realizing the sun is low on the horizon, reluctantly agrees.
Shiloh tries to call while dangling but drops her phone. Not wanting to risk losing Becky’s phone they decide to head back to the top where it’s more stable. In the process, Shiloh slips and falls several dozen feet till the rope catches her. She dangles like a tetherball and tears a gash in her elbow, trying to grasp the rusty pole. The disturbance causes Becky to lose her grip and Shiloh falls an additional fifty feet to the television satellite, fracturing her wrist and bleeding badly from a severed vein in her arm.
Becky descends to her with the first aid kit (because actual climbers carry those things), but realizes she can’t move her from the precarious position and has to apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Now on an unstable platform, with no way to move Shiloh, windy storm clouds coming on, and drained in every way, Becky fastens in Shiloh as best she can to the satellite brackets and makes the 911 call.
The first responders quickly rule out a rescue from the ground level. It’s too high for the largest cranes and with Shiloh’s injuries the clock is ticking. They consider a helicopter rescue but the pole’s height and the climber’s positions mean the forest service helicopter can’t get close enough without clipping the tower with its rotors.
A Chinook with Air Force PJs attempt to lower a rescue basket to Shiloh but the winds cause the basket to wrap around the tower, threatening the Chinook and rattling the women. It starts raining. A single PJ is lowered by wire and clamps onto the structure. He gets to Shiloh and rigs her up while the Chinook has to break off for fuel and weather. He treats Shiloh, now in shock, and reassures Becky through the rainstorm. Another Chinook arrives and they manage to retrieve each of them off by wire and harness.
Years later, we see that Shiloh is a much more sober and serious person after incurring the loss of fame and fortune. All she wants is forgiveness from Becky.
“Sure, I forgive you,” Becky stares at her from her doorway, now remarried to a PJ and with a young child by her side.
“Maybe we can connect again sometime,” Shiloh suggests, “not climbing, though.”
“No. I hope you find what you’re looking for. But I’m done trying to help you find it.”
Becky closes the door.
End Credits
I hope you enjoyed this revised version of Fall. Is there a movie out there you’d like to see The Nerd Cut take a stab at? Drop me an email and I’ll see what I can do.
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The Dread Pirate Roberts tells the tale of Trajan, a young Guilderian on a quest to avenge the death of his father, killed by the current Dread Pirate Roberts . His efforts are quickly altered by Westley and other previous Dread Pirate Robertses, who decide to train and assist Trajan in his quest. Read the entire book for free.
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