Fallen
Directed by Scott Hicks
- drama
- fantasy
- romance
The story
Lucinda Price is sent to a reform academy under the assumption that she has killed a boy. There, she meets two mysterious boys, Cam and Daniel, to whom she feels drawn to both. But as the love triangle unfurls, it is Daniel that Luce cannot keep herself away from, and things begin to take a darker turn when she finds out his true identity.
What it’s like
Cool, muted palettes of grey skies, rain-streaked windows and wet slate roofs give this film a damp, wintry chill, shot with a steady, classical framing that favours long takes over quick cuts. The Georgia-set school scenes lean on institutional greens and washed-out interiors, while the supernatural moments bloom in soft, glowing light and sweeping crane shots of ancient oaks and Southern landscapes. The score is lush and orchestral, with swelling strings that tip into romantic melancholy and a few eerie, hushed passages. Vibe: brooding, romantic, slightly gothic, a rainy-afternoon watch for anyone who likes slow-building teen romance with a dark undercurrent. Pacing is measured, with the story unfolding through lingering looks and quiet confrontations rather than action. The emotional register is wistful and intense, following a young woman caught between two drawn-out attachments and a growing sense of dread about who she is. Intensity is low: some peril and a few tense confrontations, but no gore and little on-screen violence, with romance kept chaste and restrained. It suits viewers who want atmospheric, moody young-adult drama with a supernatural shadow.
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