From a plot standpoint, Fall bears striking similarity to another film from this year, The Ledge. But in most respects, Fall is a far superior film. For one thing, the visual effects and backgrounds in Fall are remarkably convincing. I wasn't afraid of heights before this film, but my throat dropped into my gut many times as the perilous situation unfolded. The performances in Fall add to the authenticity as these two actresses really do feel like best friends who care about each other. I believed that they cared, and that made me care. Makeup is also an element that they succeeded at here; as the days tick by and the girls have no food or water, they really do look like they're on the brink of death. And it's brutal to see. Contained thrillers are very difficult to write because there is only so much one can do to keep up both stakes and emotional investment in one setting. For the most part, this film succeeds. Drama between the girls unfolds in a sometimes heartbreaking, believable way and the times when they try to save themselves from their dire predicament are always tensely executed. What really didn't work for me was the implausibility of the girls' occasional obliviousness. Given how many days they are sitting in the same place, stuck, it's insane how long it takes for them to come up with some solutions to their present danger, and how many solutions there are that they don't come up with. But I can overlook most of this. After all, people are flawed, and judgment is skewed in the face of danger. These aren't plot holes; they're just writing conveniences that at times annoyed me personally. Still, the film is so well-acted, well-shot, well-paced, and compelling from a character perspective that I am thoroughly impressed with this as a contained thriller. It's one of the better thrillers we've gotten this year.

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