Psychological horror can be a very effective tool when telling a story, but it is a tough feat to pull off without falling into cliches and filler. The Free Fall does a decent job in the beginning and at the end, while faltering in the middle with some drawn-out scenes and dialogue. What the film lacks at times, it makes up for in the bookends, which makes for an intriguing film to watch.
Sara (Andrea Londo) is trying to recover from a double trauma and is tended to by her doting husband Nick (Shawn Ashmore). However, it soon becomes clear that Nick has unintentionally gone from the loving and caring husband and is now languishing in the world of an overbearing and controlling spouse. To make matters worse for Sara, as she begins to try and assert herself and recover, she notices things aren’t really as they seem, making her fragile mental state even tougher to manage, and has her second-guessing everything.
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Director Adam Stilwell mostly keeps the pace moving along, slowing at moments for the story’s sake, and building some decent tension and dread in a house that soon feels more like a prison. After the initial shocking opening, writer Kent Harper helps Stilwell create an atmosphere that makes both Sara and the viewer very uncomfortable.
This is done in numerous ways, one being hiring a housekeeper Rose (the formidable Jane Badler) to ‘look’ after things, only she feels more like a prison guard than any sort of help. Andrea Londo is excellent, making Sara a good mix of vulnerability, anger, frustration, and strength. Ashmore is both doting and creepy as the husband, effectively making us go from liking him to questioning almost everything he does.
As mentioned, the middle of The Free Fall is when the story begins to drag. There are certain storylines and characters that need to be built up, but scenes get dragged out, or seem unnecessary, while the dialogue between some characters falls completely flat. I found it strange, the lull that seemed to fall over the movie, that at first, I thought might be on purpose but sadly, it was not.
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However, there is much to like here, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how great the film looks. It feels…wrong, and by that, I mean the house itself. Some shots are truly eerie and make for some great tension. The contrast of colors and dark corners give the house the feel of a well-made up prison.
In the end, the final act is solid and, combined with the beginning, helps to make the overall experience one that I enjoyed. The Free Fall has some solid performances, visuals, and tension, with the feeling of dread making this a satisfying viewing experience.
The Free Fall recently screened at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2021.
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