The movie Fall concludes with Becky finally escaping the precarious top of the B67 television tower by ingeniously using her dead friend Hunter’s boots to cushion her phone and achieving a signal, leading to a rescue. However, the most shocking revelation arrives just before the rescue: Hunter died days earlier, and Becky has been hallucinating her presence, driven by grief and dehydration-induced psychosis.
The Harrowing Climb and the Desperate Fight for Survival
Fall is a relentless thriller showcasing the terrifying consequences of ambition and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. The narrative centers around Becky, struggling with grief a year after witnessing her husband’s death, and Hunter, her thrill-seeking best friend. Hunter convinces Becky to climb the abandoned B67 television tower in the Mojave Desert, hoping to conquer her fear and find closure. What starts as a daunting challenge quickly spirals into a desperate fight for survival when the ladder sections break off, trapping them thousands of feet above the ground.
The film masterfully ratchets up the tension, portraying the characters’ escalating desperation as they battle hunger, thirst, the relentless sun, and circling vultures. They employ a series of increasingly desperate tactics to signal for help, from throwing down a note in a shoe to attempting to contact someone via a radio. Each failed attempt deepens their despair and highlights their vulnerability.
The Crucial Revelation: Hunter’s Demise and Becky’s Hallucinations
The turning point of the film arrives when Becky, driven by desperation, throws her phone down into Hunter’s boot, hoping the padded protection will allow it to survive the fall and receive a signal. After countless attempts, she finally manages to get a weak signal and sends a text to her father.
However, immediately before this success, the audience (and seemingly Becky) is forced to confront a chilling truth. Becky discovers a carving on the tower, reading “No service, go home,” which Hunter claimed to have done herself. But looking closer, Becky sees that Hunter’s body is right next to this carving, and has clearly been dead for days. The entire time the carving was in place, and so Hunter couldn’t have carved it. This prompts a stark realization: Hunter died during the initial failed attempt to send down the rope ladder section, and Becky has been hallucinating her presence ever since.
This revelation reframes the entire narrative. Hunter’s unwavering optimism and survival instincts were not real but figments of Becky’s deeply traumatized mind, created to push her to survive. Becky had been alone with Hunter’s corpse for days.
The Final Descent and the Road to Recovery
Understanding the truth, Becky channels her grief and newfound resolve into one final act of desperation. She kicks Hunter’s body off the tower to attract the vultures, successfully drawing the attention of passing motorists who then alert emergency services. Paramedics arrive just in time to rescue the severely dehydrated and emotionally scarred Becky.
The film concludes with Becky, safe on the ground, texting her father about her survival. While physically saved, the emotional scars of her ordeal, and the realization of Hunter’s fate, will undoubtedly have a lasting impact. The ending suggests a long road to recovery but also highlights Becky’s incredible resilience and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Ending of Fall
Q1: How did Becky finally get rescued from the tower?
Becky was rescued by strategically kicking Hunter’s body off the tower to attract vultures. These vultures were spotted by a passing vehicle, who contacted authorities.
Q2: What was the significance of the carving “No service, go home” on the tower?
The carving exposed the truth of Hunter’s death. Becky initially believed Hunter carved it, but seeing Hunter’s corpse right beside it proves that she had been dead for days. This prompted the revelation that Becky was hallucinating Hunter’s presence, as she would’ve been unable to carve it after dying.
Q3: Was Hunter really alive for the entire movie, or was she a figment of Becky’s imagination?
Hunter was dead for the majority of the movie. She died when attempting to descend the tower to retrieve a dropped bag, and Becky hallucinated her presence as a coping mechanism fueled by grief, dehydration, and trauma.
Q4: Why did Becky hallucinate Hunter’s presence?
Becky’s hallucination of Hunter was likely a combination of factors, including:
- Grief: Becky was already emotionally vulnerable due to her husband’s recent death.
- Trauma: Being trapped at such a height and the initial fall would be extremely traumatic.
- Dehydration and Starvation: The lack of water and food would severely impact brain function, leading to hallucinations.
- Survival Instinct: Her subconscious may have created Hunter to provide the necessary motivation and support to survive.
Q5: What was the significance of the vultures in the film?
The vultures served as a constant threat, symbolizing death and decay. They also ultimately played a crucial role in Becky’s rescue, as her desperate act of attracting them led to her being found.
Q6: How did Becky get her phone signal to send a text?
Becky used Hunter’s boots as padding to protect her phone after dropping it from the top of the tower. With the cushioned landing, the phone survived and managed to catch a weak signal.
Q7: What did Becky text her father at the end of the movie?
The text message sent to Becky’s father simply said, “I’m alive.”
Q8: What are some themes explored in the movie Fall?
The film explores themes of grief, survival, friendship, ambition, and overcoming fear. It also examines the power of the human spirit to endure extreme circumstances.
Q9: What evidence is there to support the theory that Hunter was dead the entire time (after the fall)?
Besides the carving mentioned above, Hunter’s unrealistic optimism and energy levels, despite being trapped and deprived of resources, becomes a red flag with the revelation. Additionally, Becky often interacts with her without showing the camera her point of view.
Q10: How does the ending of Fall change the audience’s interpretation of the events that transpired during the movie?
The revelation of Hunter’s death completely reframes the narrative. Everything that seemed to be a joint effort for survival is now viewed through the lens of Becky’s psychological state. Hunter’s decisions are no longer conscious choices but instead manifestations of Becky’s inner struggle.
Q11: What are some of the most terrifying aspects of the situation in Fall?
Some of the most terrifying aspects include the extreme height, the feeling of isolation, the lack of resources, the constant threat of falling, the psychological toll of being trapped, and the realization of Hunter’s death.
Q12: What is the overall message or takeaway from the movie Fall?
Fall delivers a message about the strength of the human spirit and the lengths people will go to survive. It also underscores the importance of confronting grief and trauma. The film suggests that even in the darkest and most desperate of circumstances, hope and resilience can prevail. The ability to make difficult choices and find strength within oneself is also a key takeaway.