Fall

Fall

Year: 2017

Runtime: 82 min

Language: English

Director: Terrance Odette

Drama

At Niagara Falls, Father Sam’s peaceful life as a Roman Catholic priest is shattered by a resurfaced secret from his past. A fragmented memory of an encounter with a young boy decades earlier haunts him, forcing him to question his actions and confront a potential lapse in judgment. As he struggles to reconcile his faith with a possible moral failing, he seeks redemption and grapples with his own fallibility.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Fall (2017) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Fall (2017), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

As the story unfolds, we are thrust into the lives of three adventurous spirits: Becky (Grace Caroline Currey), her husband Dan (Mason Gooding), and her best friend Hunter (Virginia Gardner). They embark on a daring expedition, scaling a colossal rock wall. However, their thrill-seeking adventure takes a harrowing turn when Becky must leap to join Dan, only for him to lose his grip because a bat frightens him. In a devastating twist of fate, Dan’s harness breaks, and he plummets to his death.

Fast forward nearly a year later, and we find Becky ensnared in a debilitating spiral of grief and dependence on alcohol, having distanced herself from her father, James (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Despite his attempts to comfort her, Becky grapples with unresolved feelings, aware of his insinuations about Dan’s true nature. Just as she seems irreparably lost, a phone call from Hunter offers a glimmer of hope. Hunter suggests an audacious challenge: scaling a towering TV mast that reaches over 2000 feet. Although initially hesitant, Becky accepts the challenge, finding solace in Hunter’s unwavering support as they prepare for their arduous climb.

The suspense deepens when Becky experiences a nightmare featuring Dan. Upon waking, she confides in Hunter about a haunting message from Dan, “Don’t be afraid to live,” leading her to embrace the exhilarating yet terrifying leap into their climb. Their journey to prepare begins with a stop at a roadside diner, where Hunter uses a creative method to charge Becky’s phone, setting the stage for their challenge ahead.

As they approach the tower, excitement gives way to anxiety, and they find themselves faced with daunting obstacles right from the onset. Their excitement dims when they encounter a massive gate, compelling them to hike on foot. The eerie landscape presents a chilling scene: a coyote carcass being devoured by vultures, foreshadowing the perilous nature of their undertaking. With Hunter’s encouragement, Becky steels herself as they embark on their climb, sharing a moment of triumph when they reach 1000 feet, marveling at their height, which surpasses that of the Eiffel Tower.

However, their ascent is fraught with peril as they navigate a precarious exterior ladder. Tension mounts when the rusty rungs begin to give way, and bolts fall loose beneath their feet. Their spirit remains unbroken, and upon reaching the summit, they revel in breathtaking vistas. Hunter captures this moment for social media and initiates a precarious photo shoot, urging Becky to scatter Dan’s ashes from the pinnacle, revealing an emotional weight that brings them closer together.

Tragedy strikes again during their descent, as mishaps lead to an unsettling realization: broken rungs render their path back treacherous. In a heart-stopping moment, their gear falls, compelling Hunter to act quickly to save Becky, who sustains an injury. Improvisation becomes their lifeline as they discover binoculars and a flare gun, which become vital tools in their desperate quest for survival.

The relentless landscape soon becomes their prison, rendering them helpless without a cell signal to call for help. Hours drag on with no response despite their attempts to signal for assistance. When they spot a trailer in the distance, hope flickers as Hunter devises a plan involving her phone. Yet, fate has other plans, and when they throw a shoe to catch the attention of a nearby passerby, their predicament becomes even graver as the men in the trailer are oblivious.

As night envelops them, their situation becomes increasingly dire, leading to a tense interaction between their past emotions and the harsh reality of their survival. The emotional toll mounts as Becky discovers a tattoo on Hunter’s foot that harkens back to Dan, revealing a hidden truth about their complicated relationships: Hunter has her own history with Dan, a revelation that turns Becky’s world upside down.

The dawn reveals the stark realization that they must adapt as their chances of rescue diminish. When Hunter proposes that Becky secure their supplies from the satellite, she exhibits bravery that is crucial for their survival. However, along the way, they fall into deeper emotional turmoil, with revelations about loyalty and love coming to the forefront.

In their frantic bid for survival, they use a drone to attempt to send a distress signal. But with limitations and catastrophes piling up, their hope seems fading with each passing moment. As exhaustion and desperation take hold, they confront the reality of their grim situation, leading to desperate measures that expose both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.

Desperation fuels Becky as she confronts the vulture that threatens her, showcasing her fight for survival. All the while, an apology to James reignites her sense of hope. Embracing the grim nature of her situation, she hatches a plan that involves Hunter’s body in hopes of drawing attention to their plight, a heart-wrenching yet poignant moment forms as she makes the ultimate sacrifice for a chance at survival.

Meanwhile, James is oblivious to the chaos above until he arrives at the scene, where he is met with the aftermath. His anxiety peaks until an unexpected moment of relief washes over him when he finds Becky on stable ground. Their reunion is a powerful testament to the resilience of love, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds of family, reminding us that even in the direst of circumstances, hope can triumph against all odds.

Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 13:11

Ending Explained – What Happens at the End of Fall?

Still wondering what the ending of Fall (2017) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.

The ending of “Fall” leaves viewers with a mix of relief and ambiguity. After a harrowing week stranded atop the 2,000-foot TV tower, Becky is finally rescued by emergency services. Her ordeal has been intense, involving starvation, dehydration, hallucinations, and a shocking realization that her friend Hunter had died some time ago. Throughout the last part of the film, Becky hallucinates Hunter’s presence, a mental escape from her unbearable solitude and hopelessness. It is only when she manages to send out her SOS that help arrives, and she is pulled to safety. However, the film’s final moments do not fully clarify what is real. While Becky walks away with her life, her psychological state remains uncertain—whether she truly survived or if her perceptions were merely hallucinations remains ambiguous.

The film reveals that Hunter didn’t actually survive the fall; he died shortly after Becky dropped to the platform below, bleeding out and becoming part of her hallucinations. Becky’s mind, overwhelmed by exhaustion and shock, continued to believe her friend was alive, creating a vivid but false version of events. This means much of what she experienced during her ordeal—conversations, planning, and Hunter’s presence—was in her mind, a coping mechanism to battle her despair. The scene with Becky killing the vulture also symbolizes her struggle for hope, but it may have been another hallucination, emphasizing her fractured sense of reality.

After Becky is rescued, the story does not detail her future, leaving her fate open to interpretation. She might recover physically and emotionally, or her trauma could mark her for a long, difficult healing process. The movie’s ending hints that a sequel is in development, which could explore her journey forward or introduce new characters in different high-stakes survival situations. The core message is about the importance of perspective—the reminder that life is fragile and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Becky’s escape, bittersweet as it is, underscores the idea that survival is often a mix of physical endurance and mental resilience, with some truths remaining deliberately ambiguous to keep viewers thinking long after the credits roll.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:01

Unlock the Full Story of Fall

Don't stop at just watching — explore Fall in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Fall is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Fall Timeline

Track the full timeline of Fall with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Fall Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Fall

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Fall. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Fall

Fall Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Fall? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Fall Ending Explained

Fall Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Fall that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Fall Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Fall

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Fall: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Fall