Fall
For best friends Becky and Hunter, life is all about conquering fears and pushing limits. But after they climb 2,000 feet to the top of a remote, abandoned radio tower, they find themselves stranded with no way down. Now Becky and Hunter’s expert climbing skills will be put to the ultimate test as they desperately fight to survive the elements, a lack of supplies, and vertigo-inducing heights
Despite its modest budget of $3.0M, Fall became a financial success, earning $17.4M worldwide—a 479% return. The film's unique voice connected with viewers, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Fall (2022) exemplifies meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Scott Mann's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Becky, her husband Dan, and best friend Hunter are experienced rock climbers enjoying a thrilling climb together, representing Becky's life before tragedy.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Hunter convinces Becky to climb the 2,000-foot B67 TV tower, presenting it as a way to overcome her grief and honor Dan's memory.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Becky makes the active choice to continue climbing past the point of no return, committing fully to ascending the tower despite her fear and grief., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory turns to defeat: After successfully reaching the summit and spreading Dan's ashes, the ladder breaks away from the tower during their descent, stranding them on the small platform 2,000 feet in the air with no way down., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Hunter falls to her death while attempting to retrieve a bag with emergency supplies. Becky is now completely alone at the top of the tower, with her best friend dead and no hope of rescue., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Becky realizes she can use Hunter's body as a weight to launch her phone in the rescue bag down to ground level where it might get signal, synthesizing her climbing knowledge with desperate innovation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Fall's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Fall against these established plot points, we can identify how Scott Mann utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Fall within the thriller genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional thriller films include Eye for an Eye, Lake Placid and Operation Finale.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Becky, her husband Dan, and best friend Hunter are experienced rock climbers enjoying a thrilling climb together, representing Becky's life before tragedy.
Theme
Hunter tells Becky "You can't just climb your way out of this" during their conversation about grief, establishing the theme of confronting fear rather than running from it.
Worldbuilding
Dan falls to his death during the opening climb. One year later, Becky is depressed and withdrawn, living with her father who worries about her. Hunter, now a daredevil influencer, reappears with a plan to spread Dan's ashes from a decommissioned TV tower.
Disruption
Hunter convinces Becky to climb the 2,000-foot B67 TV tower, presenting it as a way to overcome her grief and honor Dan's memory.
Resistance
Becky debates whether to do the climb. She lies to her father about her plans. The women drive to the remote desert tower, discussing their friendship and Dan. They prepare equipment and begin the ascent, with Becky nervous but committed.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Becky makes the active choice to continue climbing past the point of no return, committing fully to ascending the tower despite her fear and grief.
Mirror World
Intimate moments between Becky and Hunter during the climb reveal their deep friendship and shared history. Hunter embodies the fearless approach to life that Becky has lost.
Premise
The women climb higher, encountering increasingly dangerous obstacles: rusted ladders, missing rungs, and dizzying heights. They film content for Hunter's social media, spread Dan's ashes, and reach the top platform. The premise delivers on the promise of extreme heights and vertigo-inducing danger.
Midpoint
False victory turns to defeat: After successfully reaching the summit and spreading Dan's ashes, the ladder breaks away from the tower during their descent, stranding them on the small platform 2,000 feet in the air with no way down.
Opposition
The women struggle to survive on the exposed platform. They face dehydration, vultures, storms, and failed rescue attempts. Their phones have no signal. Tensions rise between them. Hunter reveals she slept with Dan before his death, devastating Becky and destroying their friendship.
Collapse
Hunter falls to her death while attempting to retrieve a bag with emergency supplies. Becky is now completely alone at the top of the tower, with her best friend dead and no hope of rescue.
Crisis
Becky processes the loss of Hunter, her isolation, and impending death. She hallucinates conversations with Hunter, revealing that Hunter has been dead for some time and Becky has been alone longer than shown.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Becky realizes she can use Hunter's body as a weight to launch her phone in the rescue bag down to ground level where it might get signal, synthesizing her climbing knowledge with desperate innovation.
Synthesis
Becky retrieves Hunter's body, places her phone inside, and launches it down in a daring plan. The phone gets signal and alerts her father. A rescue helicopter arrives and saves Becky from the tower.
Transformation
Becky is rescued and reunited with her father, having confronted her deepest fears and grief. She has survived and found the strength to live again, transformed from the broken woman at the start.