Is 'Fall 2: Deadpoint' Based On A True Story?
Following the events of the last Fall (2022) movie, Fall 2: Deadpoint (2026), which is now in theaters, serves as a sequel in which the terror isn't solely vertical; it's horizontal. Rather than having its characters ascend a massive tower, they are exploring a dangerous plank walk that becomes a fight for survival.
Fall 2: Deadpoint gives viewers a new way to be scared of heights, and the location feels so real that it has many fans wondering if this is a location you can actually visit. Rather than it being a straightforward "no," the answer to that is actually more interesting, as a terrifying real-life location inspires it.
What Is 'Fall 2: Deadpoint' Inspired By?
Fall 2: Deadpoint's setting is a dangerous plank walk in Thailand where our main characters travel to try and push the limits of what they feel they can do. This plank walk, however, may be pushing things too far, as it's incredibly dangerous, and the only support they have is their harnesses and a guide.
The location feels too dangerous and outrageous to seem real, and technically, the setting in the film isn't. That said, it is based on a real-life location in China that is just as scary. The Mount Huashan Plank Walk is a popular tourist spot in China where visitors scale the mountainside along a thin plank trail.
The path was initially carved by Taoist monks over 500 years ago and has since become a spot that climbers frequent for the location and the view. However, the scariest part is the traffic jams that occur when those going cross paths with others coming back. Though it's only 330 feet long, it's still unsettling.
Why Were the Directors of 'Fall 2: Deadpoint' Inspired to Try Something Different?
The original Fall was the first part of a trilogy and introduced the dangers of climbing should things go wrong. The setting and story of survival are easy to get caught up in, but when thinking of a sequel, the next question is what would be even more pulse-pounding.
According to a Polygon interview with directors Michael and Peter Spierig, they mentioned that they couldn't go vertical. "We didn't wanna make it a tower or anything similar to the first film. There was just no point of going there again." With the story now taking a horizontal approach, it opened up more options for storytelling.
In a mountainside survival thriller, malnutrition and no way to get down are the least of the leads' concerns. Now they have to face falling debris, rusty bridges, and rotten wood they have to climb. The challenges mount, and it means that for every success, another setback isn't far behind.
'Fall 2: Deadpoint's Location Is a Perfect Choice For the Sequel
Fall 2: Deadpoint isn't trying to one-up its predecessor, but it does try to take things in a new direction, delivering a premise and location that will surely make the movie stand out. It isn't a real spot, but its real-life inspiration is pretty close to what is shown in the film.
In the end, the movie and its location will make for an exciting time with a new type of fear of heights that most people may not have even known about. While it highlights the Huashan Plank Walk and how scary it can be, it's both a frightening and informative time in the theaters. Now the only question that remains is how a third Fall movie could top what the first and second have accomplished.
