Guyed Mast Radio Towers: Is the Film “Fall” Based on a True Story?

 

    While survivor stories are naturally intense, Fall is the kind of film that reaches new heights as a genre standard.  This is a horror movie that isn’t a horror movie; it will make you afraid of heights even if you aren’t.  Or if you thought you weren’t.  Few environments will make you as sick to your stomach as the harrowing heights do in Fall, which seemingly transports you to a place in the sky out of thin air, suspending you there mercilessly for nearly two hours. 

    The two girls in the film, while being incredibly brave, were also incredibly foolish.  They decided to climb a 2,000-foot structure that is clearly out of service- it hasn’t been maintained in years- just for kicks. Hunter in particular appeared to have no fear whatsoever, even when the going got tough. Her spirit is too strong for its own good, crossing the line from courageous to reckless with disturbing ease. While it’s hard to believe someone wouldn’t be afraid in that situation, there are professional climbers who service these types of towers, as seen in the video below. Like many others, I am in awe of their courage. Warning: this video is not recommended for those with a fear of heights. 

    The girls are not based on real people, nor are the events in the film. But incredibly, there are towers all over the U.S.A. just like the one in this movie, which I had no idea before today.  I was vaguely aware of the CN Tower in Toronto matching the profile, albeit being slightly lower in elevation and having a free-standing structure.  I counted about 100 of these “guyed mast” structures on Wikipedia’s page of the world’s tallest structures, all hovering around the 2,000 feet mark, with many more from lower elevations.  This means that nearly 100% of the world’s tallest structures are or were American guyed masts- four of which have collapsed.   

    The reason they are so high is they are meant to transmit TV and radio waves across wide expanses of the Midwest. Topographically, the American west and eastern seaboard have higher elevations from which to broadcast, making tall towers like these unnecessary. For such amazingly tall structures, it is equally amazing that they are only supported by long cables, and that the only way to reach their narrow tops is by climbing.

     According to director Scott Mann, the tower in the film is based on the KXTV/KOVR tower in Walnut Grove, California.