FALL
A riveting tower climb with strong moral themes — for adults only.
Should You Watch It?
FALL earns its three stars with a well-constructed plot and tension that keeps mounting. The stranded-climber premise supplies many scary, exciting moments, while the two women’s desperate attempts to reach help make practical use of a drone, flare gun, rope, and even a tennis shoe.
The film also offers more than suspense. It promotes friendship, helping others in need, marriage, and strong caring fathers. Becky’s grief and her relationship with her father give the adventure a heartfelt emotional center.
But the content rating is serious. The movie contains too many obscenities and profanities, along with strong, scary material that may overwhelm sensitive viewers. If you’re an adult who can handle those concerns, FALL is worth the trip; for children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBecky is mourning the accidental climbing death of her husband, Dan. Still deep in sorrow a year later, she accepts a challenge from Shiloh Hunter, a daredevil climber and podcast host.
Together, they attempt to climb an abandoned, isolated 2,000-foot television tower in the California desert. When the external ladder gives way at the top, they must find a way down before they die of exposure.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars mean FALL is a very good, effective adventure with meaningful flaws. The plot is well-constructed, and the tension mounts throughout as the two women try one desperate solution after another. Their failures increase the suspense exponentially.
Grace Caroline Currey gives a sympathetic performance as a widowed climber suffering nightmares and deep sorrow. Virginia Gardner brings courage and determination to the rebellious Hunter, while Jeffrey Dean Morgan rounds out the top cast as Becky’s concerned father.
The film is scary and riveting, but its many obscenities and profanities diminish the overall experience.
The Worldview
FALL presents a strong moral worldview. It values friendship, helping others in need, marriage, and strong caring fathers. Becky’s father tries to help her move forward after Dan’s death, even though his first efforts drive her away. Their relationship ultimately reaches a very heartfelt conclusion.
The film also treats grief seriously. Becky’s sorrow is not dismissed, and her courage grows through friendship and the need to help another person. At the same time, the story includes reckless daredevil behavior and a young widow’s consideration of suicide, giving families important matters to discuss.
The movie’s central longing is for healing after devastating loss. Scripture offers this comfort: “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview promotes friendship, helping others in need, marriage, and strong caring fathers
Foul Language
41 obscenities (including one “f” word and many “s” words), five GD profanities, one Jesus profanity, 18 light profanities, and woman urinates off tower platform on which she’s stuck
Violence
Strong, scary adventure violence as two women find themselves stranded atop a 2,000 foot television tower in the middle of nowhere, with harrowing climbing scenes, a bird startles a man climbing a mountain, and he eventually falls to his death, a woman with a cellphone swings on a rope to get a cell signal, woman jumps to grab an important backpack swinging on a rope, two women, take turns dangling from the top of a 2,000-foot tower to take some scary images for a podcast, woman has a leg wound, another woman has a couple wounds, two buzzards come to feed on the wounds until they’re shooed away, buzzards feed on the bloody wounds of a dead coyote, truck almost hits a car, truck actually hits an object, and young widow considers suicide, but she’s interrupted
Sex
Woman learns that her husband cheated on her before they got married
Nudity
No nudity, but some images of female cleavage
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use and drunkenness as young widow tries to drown her sorrows a year after her beloved husband’s sudden death
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs, though young widow contemplates taking some pills to end her life;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Reckless daredevil behavior occurs in movie, so parents may want to discuss that topic with their children.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Becky’s grief affects how she responds to her father’s concern. How can we help someone who is hurting without pushing them away?
Galatians 6:2 · Romans 12:15The women’s reckless climb creates danger for both of them. What is the difference between courage and foolish risk-taking?
Proverbs 14:16 · Luke 14:28The film values friendship and helping others in need. When have you seen someone’s presence or practical help make a difficult situation bearable?
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 · Galatians 6:2Becky considers suicide while overwhelmed by sorrow. How can Christians respond when someone feels there is no way forward?
Psalm 34:18 · Romans 12:15The Final Word
FALL is a scary, well-constructed adventure with a strong moral heart and a moving father-daughter relationship. Its many obscenities and frightening moments make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, however, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY.
