"Fall 2: Deadpoint," the sequel to the 2022 vertigo thriller "Fall," is set to open in Russian cinemas on September 24, 2026, and an early review from Championat.com has rated it 5.5 out of 10, calling it weaker than the original in almost every respect.
The film was directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, known as the Spierig Brothers, and stars Harriet Slater, Arsema Thomas and Virginia Gardner. It is a thriller produced by Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The reviewer wrote that the first "Fall" was not a masterpiece but was enjoyable, praising how it built tension, delivered a surprising twist, played on fear of heights, and subverted audience expectations, including a moment when the stranded heroines call for rescue only to have their car stolen instead of getting help. The sequel, the review said, is harder to praise because it is weaker in tension, plot twists, dialogue and overall logic, and appears to have been made less for entertainment than to launch a franchise built around people repeatedly climbing to dangerous heights and suffering, without yet finding a workable script for it.
What the sequel is about
According to the review, the story follows Jax, the sister of Hunter, an extreme athlete who died in the first film. Hunter's death only increased her following, with obsessive fans quoting her, coveting her belongings and seeking out the same routes she climbed. Jax, meanwhile, is left unable to cope and withdraws into herself.
The plot is set in motion when a friend of Hunter's arrives with what the review called a reckless plan: to travel to the dangerous Thai peak Hunter never managed to reach, in the belief it would help Jax find closure. The climb, unsurprisingly, does not go as intended, and the peak itself is described as frightening even to look at.
Praise for the film's tense moments
The review credited "Fall 2: Deadpoint" with several strong sequences, including a metal ladder that comes loose from the rock face at the worst possible moment, flimsy wooden planks that break underfoot, unsecured stretches of the route, and falling rocks, all playing out roughly two kilometers above sea level. In that setting, the review said, even a small step feels like an achievement, every natural vista looks like a work of art, and any mistake guarantees death, which keeps the tension largely effective, particularly when the characters attempt something impressive. The review singled out a scene near the end in which Jax, in the reviewer's words, channels Lara Croft, calling it genuinely gripping to watch.
Where the review says it falls short
Outside those moments, the review said the film is frequently banal, with characters spending roughly 90 percent of the runtime exchanging encouragement such as urging each other on and insisting they can make it. When they are not offering pep talks, the review said, they fall back on other clichés, including revealing secret, incurable illnesses. Despite the backstory, flashbacks and grief over Hunter, the review said viewers are unlikely to feel much for the characters or their relationships.
The review was also critical of the characters' judgment, writing that the heroines behave as though determined to get themselves killed from start to finish, picking fights and arguing with dangerous people, and joking that a fitting tagline for the film would be a line questioning what on earth they think they are doing.
Two twists, one misfire
The sequel includes two plot twists, the review said. The first barely affects the story, while the second is one the characters could reasonably have treated as an unpleasant but survivable setback. Instead, the review said, their reckless choices turn it into a bloodbath, and the moment is more likely to leave viewers cringing with secondhand embarrassment than on the edge of their seats.
The verdict
Summing up, the review said "Fall 2: Deadpoint" is spectacular and gripping in its best moments but is more often let down by flat dialogue, predictable flashbacks and dubious twists, concluding it is watchable but ultimately unnecessary. Among its strengths, the review listed genuine tension at its best moments and lavish scenery, while its weaknesses included dull dialogue, questionable plot twists and an overreliance on cliche. The film is scheduled to begin official screenings in Russia on September 24, 2026.
