Hunter Dies in Fall: The Shocking Twist Ending!

2022 saw the unexpected success of the gripping thriller, Fall, which reached unsettling extremes in its narrative. The film delves deep into the psyches of two characters as they attempt to ascend a towering 2,000-foot tower, confronting an immense danger. By the end, the movie‘s surprising finale left audiences stunned and elevated it above typical storylines.

Regardless of a relatively low-profile premiere, the film “Fall” managed to achieve immense success. Earning approximately seven times its production cost in cinemas, it also garnered a massive audience on Netflix. Now, with more viewers than ever intrigued by the film and its surprising conclusion, the mystery surrounding “Fall” only deepens.

The Premise of Scott Mann’s Fall

Fall Follows Two Friends Who Get Stranded on a High Platform

In the film “Fall“, characters Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner) embark on a risky climb up a 2,000-foot radio tower in the desert to flee their inner struggles. As it’s been a year since Becky lost her husband Dan during rock climbing, Hunter proposed this ascent to the peak, scatter Dan’s remains, and release the pent-up feelings. By assisting Becky in overcoming the grief that was driving her into depression, Hunter aimed to bring back their daring friendship.

Despite some hidden wrongdoings surfacing and a grim sequence of events leading to a heart-stopping climax, it’s evident that the film’s title, Fall, symbolizes more than just a literal descent. It represents the downfall of the human spirit and camaraderie, as portrayed by the main characters in this movie. The most significant ‘fall’, however, is the estrangement between these friends that forms the crux of the plot.

What Happened Between Becky and Hunter?

Becky and Hunter Are Divided Over a Miserable Affair

In my take on the movie “Fall”, I found myself stranded with two companions atop a tower, a grim reality brought about when our rickety ladder crumbled and our provisions – water and a drone with an exhausted battery – tumbled onto a distant satellite platform. With only 50 feet of rope to our disposal, we were left in a dire situation after enduring three harrowing nights without any word reaching the outside world. To add fuel to the fire, there was no cell service available for us to reach out for help.

In a surprising turn of events, when they attempted to conceal a phone inside one of Hunter’s shoes as padding, Becky noticed a “143” tattoo on his foot. This was Dan’s secret way of expressing his love for Becky. As she revisited her wedding footage to make sense of things, she discovered that Hunter had been unfaithful to Dan, which shed light on why Hunter had been so insistent about the trip. This revelation explained her eagerness to use the trip as a means to deal with her own heartache on their tragic anniversary.

Does Hunter Die in Fall?

Hunter’s Fate Makes for the Big Twist Ending in Fall

At the close of the film Fall, the companions momentarily set aside their turmoil. With Becky lowering Hunter to retrieve the drone-containing sack, this act necessitated a perilous leap from Hunter onto a compact satellite platform. Subsequently, she employed a selfie stick to fasten the bag to a line and plunged off to secure herself to the rope. As she ascended, unfortunately, Hunter slipped back onto the platform; however, Becky eventually succeeded in hoisting both the sack and Hunter upwards.

After an unfortunate injury to Hunter, Becky climbed up to the highest point where the beacon light stood, fashioned an explosive device from her wedding ring, and then returned safely. But upon dispatching a drone for help, it was hit by a passing truck on its way to a nearby motel with a distress message. This blow dealt a heavy psychological toll on Becky, setting the stage for an unexpected turn of events.

The audience, along with Becky, are left questioning why Hunter didn’t grab the falling bag and why he hadn’t warned her about the approaching truck. It’s eventually revealed that Becky had been hallucinating Hunter’s presence, a tragic consequence of her grief. Sadly, Hunter’s demise took place during the fall onto the platform; she ultimately succumbed to her injuries. This revelation is a modern adaptation of the ghost trope seen in various narratives.

How Did Becky Escape in Fall?

Becky Manages To Survive Fall’s Death-Defying Ending

Becky, exhausted and on the verge of falling asleep, managed to shake off her self-pity. She had been tormented by a scavenger bird that pecked at her injured leg, but when it came back to harass her again, she killed and ate it in a brutal, gory fashion. This act removed any fear or respect she had for the bird. The victory gave her newfound courage, symbolizing how the “Ghost Hunter” had bullied her. Becky then descended to the satellite platform, placed her phone with an SOS message inside the hunter’s wound, apologized, and pushed her body off.

Since there was information at the bottom, Becky assumed her plea for aid would be delivered successfully. Leaving a heartfelt video, she implored her father, James, who had previously cautioned her about Dan, to take note. Finally, she acknowledged his concern and fortunately, James received her message and hurried to the desert. Upon arrival, he discovered the authorities were collecting a deceased body, but it wasn’t Becky – it was Hunter. In an emotional reunion, Becky rushed out to greet him as a helicopter hovered overhead in the night sky, verifying they had rescued Becky after James sent word.

The Main Cast and Director of the Movie Fall

They All Have Long Filmographies

Scott Mann

Scott Mann, who made his directorial debut with the 2009 action film “The Tournament,” is the person behind the camera for the movie “Fall.” Although the movie didn’t do well financially in its theater release, its budget of $8 million gave Mann experience in making movies within a similar scope. In 2015, Mann released “Heist” which featured Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kate Bosworth, and Dave Bautista in prominent roles.

In 2018, the movie “Final Score” was released, following Mann’s next project and featuring Bautista. Interestingly, it shared its release year with the History Channel TV show “Six,” for which Mann directed an episode. Additionally, he directed three episodes of the series “The Oath,” premiering in the subsequent year. The latest feature film by Mann is “Fall,” his only project to date that was financially successful during its theater run. Although Mann will not be returning as the director for “Fall’s” sequel, he intends to contribute as a writer and producer.

Grace Caroline Currey

Grace Caroline Currey is an actress and dancer who kick-started her career as a child on the TV series “That’s Life”. She made numerous appearances on various TV shows, often playing brief, one-episode roles. Many of these roles were as younger counterparts to recurring characters on those shows. An example is her portrayal of the young Melinda Gordon on the TV show “Ghost Whisperer”, which aired on CBS for five years. Her first significant film role was as Celina Rice in the 2007 movie “Badland”. Interestingly, she also had a minor part in “Annabelle: Creation”, a film set in an unspecified time period.

Grace Fulton, notably known for her role, has shined brightest in the DC Extended Universe’s Shazam! films, particularly as Mary Bromfield. In the initial Shazam! movie, she embodied Mary’s human persona, and reprised her role to encompass both Mary and her superhero form in the 2023 sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods. The debut of these films, especially Fall, have significantly spotlighted this talented actress.

Virginia Gardner

Virginia Gardner kicked off her acting journey in 2011, making an appearance as Young Lemon in an episode of Hart of Dixie. During this period, she also landed notable roles such as those in the Disney Channel series Lab Rats and the Fox musical-drama Glee. Similar to her fellow cast member from Fall, she too has a background linked with a common superhero universe. She brought Karolina Dean to life in the TV show Marvel’s Runaways, which was part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In Runaways, Gardner’s performance garnered her a shared Golden Issue Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Following this success, she has appeared in series like The Righteous Gemstones and others. Her initial significant role on the big screen was as Christina, the sister of David Raskin in Project Almanac (2015). Since then, she’s been recognized as a horror movie scream queen, with her performance in the 2018 Halloween reboot being one example. After the premiere of Fall, her most notable role was in Beautiful Disaster, an adaptation of Jamie McGuire’s novel. She is scheduled to return as Abby Abernathy in the sequel Beautiful Wedding.

How Fall Filmed Its Thrilling Action Set Pieces

The Movie Shot It’s Heart-Pounding Scenes on a Real Set

In the context of today’s movie-making techniques like VFX and CGI, one might assume that the filming of “Fall” involved similar methods throughout. However, contrary to this assumption, the radio tower depicted in the movie was an actual structure where the lead actresses filmed. Although it didn’t match the movie’s towering scale, the team behind “Fall” built a 100-foot replica of it on a cliff in the desert to provide a genuine feeling of vertigo and realism.

To enhance the realism of the movie, Currey and Gardner opted to perform their own stunts instead of relying on doubles. Before casting them, the filmmakers ensured they were comfortable with heights. Once they had secured their roles, they dedicated themselves to acquiring the necessary physical fitness for the challenging leaps and ascents in the film. Due to the constraints of using a compact and narrow set, a model of the tower’s upper platform was utilized for Currey, Gardner, and Mann to rehearse scenes before actual filming began. The production team carefully planned and executed Fall‘s complex creation, meticulously designing the dizzying atmosphere that lent the movie its weighty impact.

Movies To Watch If You Loved Fall

There Are Several Death-Defying Stories in Film

Unlike most well-known movies nowadays, “Fall” doesn’t stem from a broad franchise with follow-ups to keep audiences entertained. However, if viewers found the thrilling suspense of “Fall” appealing, they might also enjoy other films in a similar vein.

The Descent

In my opinion as a movie critic, venturing into the depths of the Appalachian Mountains with Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) and her friends for a peaceful getaway in “The Descent” turns out to be anything but relaxing. As they delve deeper into an unexplored cave system, their tranquil weekend takes a terrifying turn when they’re ambushed by monstrous creatures lurking within. One by one, the group fights for survival as they strive to escape the labyrinthine caves before meeting a gruesome end. If you’re looking for a chilling double-bill, “The Descent” pairs excellently with “Fall“, offering a fresh take on horror that will leave you shivering in your seat.

Escape Room

2019’s chilling horror movie, “Escape Room,” transforms the concept into a bone-chilling adventure. The story revolves around six strangers who find themselves competing in a contest for $10,000 by solving an escape room puzzle. However, they soon realize that the game’s outcome isn’t just about winning or losing; it’s a matter of life and death. In comparison to “Fall,” “Escape Room” is more expansive and daring, yet retains much of the same intense frightening atmosphere.

47 Meters Down

The movie titled “47 Meters Down ” revolves around two sisters, Lisa (played by Mandy Moore) and Kate (Claire Holt), who find themselves in a harrowing situation during a daring adventure in Mexico. In their enthusiasm, they decide to descend into the ocean depths where sharks are known to roam, trapped within a cage. Unfortunately, the lowering mechanism malfunctions, causing them to plummet to the ocean floor. Reminiscent of “Fall“, this film presents us with an extraordinary predicament, pitting these two against the relentless forces of nature as they struggle for survival amidst ravenous sharks.

Everything We Know About the Fall Sequels

Fall Will Get Two Sequels, Which Will Shoot Back-To-Back

Following the unexpected triumph of Fall in 2022, Lionsgate swiftly revealed their plans to expand their surprise hit into a three-part series. Scott Mann will be back for both sequels, however, not in the same role for each. Reportedly, Michael and Peter Spierig will helm the second movie, with Mann continuing as a producer. The Spierigs have previously collaborated on the latest installment of the Saw series, Jigsaw. For the third film in the franchise, Mann is set to resume his duties as director and writer, wrapping up the trilogy with the original’s creative vision intact.

The sequels are planned to shoot consecutively, starting in June 2024. The exact release dates and plot details remain unknown, but fans can’t wait for the continuation of this promising series. It has been confirmed that Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner will rejoin the cast, reprising their roles from the first film, instead of introducing new characters and storylines.

Looking forward to the announcement of two follow-ups to the 2022 blockbuster! However, given how awe-inspiring the death-defying acrobatics in the original Free Fall, one of the most unexpected successes in recent memory, it might be challenging for these sequels to outshine those thrilling heights.

Fall is now streaming on Starz.

2025-04-29 00:56