PG-13 | 1h 38m | Climbing, Survival, Thriller | 2026
One could argue that the first “Fall” movie (2022) begat the genre of rockclimbing-horror, but it was really 2005’s cutting-edge, spelunking-slash-monster movie “The Descent”—which “Fall” was based on—that kicked it off.
“Fall” took all the claustrophobic, subterranean horror of “The Descent” and transposed it high in the sky, onto a rickety, 2,000-foot radio tower. Not high art, certainly, but it was a pretty brilliant thriller concept-repurposing. If nothing else, it did a monstrously good job of making its audience feel the dizzying terrors of climbing, then being stranded, without drinking water, with no phone signal, and circled by buzzards.
In “Fall,” the star—Shiloh (Virginia Gardner)—died. In “Fall 2: Deadpoint,” her friend Luce (Arsema Thomas) convinces Shiloh’s little sister Jax (Harriet Slater) to pay tribute to Shiloh by traveling to Thailand and illegally climbing the so-CGI-it-looks-like-a-Dr.-Seuss-mountain—Mount Kwan. If they’d called it Mount Crumpit and set out to find the Grinch’s cave, it would have been more believable.
In one of those ridiculously cliché bar scenes where you gotta bribe the bartender or say the code word to get to the legendary local guide who has access to the illegal, scary adventure, the two young ladies eventually team up with the rather bland-looking guide (Tom Brittney).
Soon, they’re stuck a tremendous amount of feet up the side of Mount Kwan, on a rickety boardwalk that becomes increasingly more dilapidated due to rain and rock-slides. The rocks soon take out the tour guide, and Jax’s cellphone ends up with one bar of service. How will they get off Mount Kwan? And will they reach the end of the climb that terminates in front of a massive stone dragon that legend says will “eat your fears?”
Off They Go
“Fall 2: Deadpoint” is overwrought, dumb as heck, and unintentionally funny without being nearly as palpably thrilling or focused as the original. The main reason is that big sister Shiloh was an actual, accomplished climber and confirmed adrenaline junkie, pushed to her not very easily scared limits, whereas little sister Jax is barely an amateur climber, and a risk-averse scaredy-cat into the entirely unbelievable bargain.
Everyone tells them what an insanely bad idea it all is. It’s too dangerous even for experienced climbers; the path is currently used by bad guys running drugs into neighboring Malaysia; it’s monsoon season (which will make the planks slippery); and if any accidents happen, they don’t speak the language to call for help.
But Luce will not be deterred! What’s with her taking Oxycodone and chasing it with Jack Daniels?? Hint, hint. And Jax must face her fears! Yes, she must! There they go, two novice climbers climbing 3,000 feet up rusty iron rungs, with some rusty chains to clip into, and navigating those weathered wooden planks where the screws fall out every 30 seconds. A walk in the park.
Yawning Void, Yawning Reviewer
While everything about “Fall 2” is more perilous than that of “Fall,” it’s not as gripping because it’s too patently ridiculous, even with all the intended nerve-shredding close-up insert shots of screws loosening and rocks crumbling to heighten the suspense, alongside some wide shots of the landscape, which would be stunning, if one weren’t so sure that the landscape is as CGI as Mount Crumpit.
If you’re not a rock climber (I sort of am) and are looking for a Friday night film that will stress you out satisfactorily, but where you won’t respect yourself the next morning—look no further than “Fall 2.”
‘Fall 2: Deadpoint’
Directors: The Spierig Brothers
Starring: Harriet Slater, Arsema Thomas, Tom Brittney
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Release Date: Sept. 2, 2026
Rating: 2 1/2 stars out of 5
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