Cliffhanger
1993 · Directed by Renny Harlin
Original language: English
- action
- adventure
- thriller
The story
A year after losing his friend in a tragic 4,000-foot fall, former ranger Gabe Walker and his partner, Hal, are called to return to the same peak to rescue a group of stranded climbers, only to learn the climbers are actually thieving hijackers who are looking for boxes full of money.
What it’s like
Cold, bright, high-altitude daylight: wide establishing shots of snow-dusted peaks under hard blue skies, then the grey-white murk of blowing snow and jagged rock in the storm sequences. Renny Harlin shoots it with big, kinetic camera moves, swooping aerial plates and sudden handheld lurches, and the colour sits in primaries, red parkas and orange gear against the white. The sound is all wind, groaning ice, creaking rope and a bombastic orchestral score that swells at every cliff edge. Vibe: bracing, muscular, popcorn-loud adventure with a chilly edge. It suits a Friday night with friends or a comfort rewatch when you want big spectacle and no slow stretches; the pacing is relentless, with few quiet beats between set pieces. Its relationships are built on rivalry turning into grudging loyalty between two mountain men. Intensity is high: frequent peril and falls, shootings, and brisk, fairly bloody violence, though nothing sustained or graphic in the gore sense. It is for people who want a rugged, high-stakes action ride with a 1990s blockbuster sheen and no emotional subtlety.
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