written by: Scott Mann and Jonathan Frank
produced by: Scott Mann, Christian Mercuri, James Harris, Mark Lane & David Haring
directed by: The Spierig Brothers
rated: PG-13 (for strong language, some violent content/bloody images and drug material)
runtime: 97 min.
U.S. release date: September 4, 2026

Back in August 2022, the low-budget survival thriller “Fall” dropped in theaters, spiking the waning days of the summer box office. It had unusually strong marketing and a “high” concept premise: two best friends, Becky Connor (Grace Caroline Currey) and Shiloh Hunter (Virginia Gardner), wound up stranded at the top of a 2,000-foot-tall broadcasting tower. Viewership spiked even more when it arrived on Netflix, and now we have a sequel, “Fall 2: Deadpoint” (dropping the “2” for the main titles, like other sequels lately) with two different young women reaching new dizzying heights. Screenwriters Scott Mann and Jonathan Frank (who penned the last one) join forces with directors The Spierig Brothers to offer a remake set in a new location, with significantly less marketing behind it. It may not be too original, but anyone with acrophobia and/or basiphobia will likely experience sweaty palms and soles.

After Shiloh died in the previous movie, video footage of her suffering and ultimate demise went viral, developing an online fanbase (hilariously called “Fall-owers”) and tasteless memes. While it’s a comical and, sadly, astute observation of online life, anyone who saw the last movie will wonder how such footage was made, let alone got online. But no one is watching these movies for accuracy or reality.

The popularity of the event and the death in particular have been overwhelming for Shiloh’s younger sister, Jax (Harriet Slater), who has been figuring out what to do with all of her sister’s stuff. She might as well sell it all or give it away, since it reminds her of a difficult sibling relationship and how their last interaction was harsh. One such item is Shiloh’s pick-up truck, and Jax finds an interested buyer in Luce (Arsema Thomas), who wants to stay connected to the deceased friend. While going through Shiloh’s things, the pair find a “Fuck-It List,” and Luce proposes visiting various locations around the world to commemorate the lost adventurer.

Jax isn’t on board; in fact, she’s quite apprehensive. However, Mann and Frank’s screenplay skips past any convincing, and next thing we know, the two young women are on their way to Thailand. That’s where a place called Mount Kwan is, and the pair set out to conquer the “Deth Dragon”, which involves a precarious hike around the mountain. Luce is more gung-ho than Jax about the excursion, and when they find a (conveniently) English-speaking guide in John (Tom Brittney), someone who knows the area well, their journey begins at a cost of $5,000 (covered by Luce, of course). 

As the trio makes their way up the mountain, both Jax and Luce are challenged to face their fears. The higher they ascend, the more isolated they are, leading them to a tight spot called the “Devil’s Elbow.” When a rockslide knocks out the plank walkway, the trio are separated, leaving Jax and Luce suddenly on their own, frightened and unable to escape from such a terrifying height.

“Deadline” differs from “Fall” mainly in the history between Jax and Shiloh. The sisters were different from each other, with Shiloh more of a reckless spirit, out to “control fear,” making bold gestures to get Jax to do the same. One such venture appears in Jax’s haunting flashbacks she revisits throughout the story, where we see her on a skydiving trip the sisters took together, with Shiloh riding tandem. Jax is clearly haunted by her past and conflicted with her place in the present. While it’s hard to believe that Jax would follow the same reckless footsteps Shiloh was known for, this particular memory does provide some possible context for her motivation. It’s not fully developed characterization, but it offers more than the last movie did.

New to the material are the Spierig Brothers, who found some creative success a while back directing “Daybreakers” and “Predestination”, a couple of Ethan Hawke-led features. The sequel they’re helming doesn’t change the premise much, as it again follows two young women stranded at daunting heights with no clear way down. Rather than the strictly vertical terrain of a broadcasting tower, the ascent here offers more variety with a rickety plank walk and an old wooden bridge connecting two immense peaks. The perilous environment forces Jax and Luce to face their fears and explore their vulnerabilities, giving the stranded pair time to confess and drop at least one eye-opening revelation. Despite all that, they have to work together to get off the mountain, and there’s a radio in a backpack that’s hanging off one of the brackets positioned on the side of the rock. This challenge tests Jax’s bravery and, surprisingly, becomes a real character arc. Again, it’s not that deep, but it’s more than expected.

The sequel has a cold open that eventually connects to another revelation of one character’s deception found in the third act, which also makes it different from the last movie. Sure, there are recycled moments of danger and despair, but I truly had a physical reaction during this viewing experience, so “Fall 2: Deadpoint” does more than a few things right. Did “Fall” warrant a sequel? Nah, probably not, but at least this isn’t a straight-up lazy rehash. That said, the sequel’s coda does hint at yet another sequel, which seems inevitable.

RATING: **1/2