Fallen (1998

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

A seasoned Philadelphia detective, John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), is forced to deal with a threat unlike anything that he’s encountered before. Prepared to take on the worst of humanity, Fallen finds Detective Hobbes struggling to comprehend the gravity of what he’s about to face. 

A compelling narrative that frequently falls short of expectations as a result of an ineffective script; this could be the tagline of the film. Characters often sit stagnant in the background, important plot points aren’t fully explained, and the film’s pacing sometimes causes pivotal moments to jump the gun and show its hand too soon. Reminiscent of Se7en, Fallen is a dark, harrowing detective story in which viewers are asked to play along and work to uncover the mystery that will eventually be revealed as a major twist at the film’s conclusion. What Fallen fails to do, however, is flesh out some paper-thin elements that are incapable of fully immersing viewers in this fantastical journey alongside Hobbes. 

I wonder what the thought process was when developing the script and omitting some pieces of the fantasy puzzle. Was Writer Nicholas Kazan hoping to trick his viewers? Did he anticipate that, by omitting enough information, viewers wouldn’t be prepared for the series of twists that exist throughout Fallen? My honest belief is that this film saw itself as more intelligent than its audience—and with Kazan as the one tasked with creating the story, it’s only fair to assume that he’s the one ultimately responsible for this failure. 

If you’ve already listened to the most recent episode of Reel Reactions w/ Greg & Kyle, you know we had a lot to say about the characters—even though there isn’t much to say about ktvw. With a star-studded cast, Donald Sutherland (Lt. Stanton), John Goodman (Jonesy), James Gandolfini (Lou), and more, one would anticipate that both Kazan and Director Gregory Hoblit would have done all that they could to include them in the narrative. While each of these actors is physically present throughout a good portion of Fallen, they are only there to serve Hobbes—a character may end up needing them only once or twice. Singular moments define these characters, and only because they have little else to offer. 

I feel like when I sat down to discuss Fallen with fellow cinephiles Greg Vorob, Jon Seymour, and Wes Huntington, I ended up discussing so many of the flaws that plague the film—often struggling to find my way back to the more promising aspects of what it had to offer. With that said, I truly did enjoy the film—and the components of Fallen that worked for me ultimately outshone the aforementioned flaws. 

My favorite aspect of Fallen was the use of light. Exceptional lighting helps to frame the most important aspects of Fallen. Not only does it help to present specific information to viewers, but it also helps them remain present in the film. There’s something darkly charming about how information is delivered throughout Fallen, and this immersive technique makes viewers feel present in this twisted narrative. Paired with the impeccable, vibrant lighting was shifting cinematography that extends the immersive nature of the fantasy film. The Dutch angle is the most prominently featured choice by Director of Photography Newton Thomas Sigel. This puts us in the mind of the mysterious villain that haunts Hobbes, allowing us to see from his point of view and better express to viewers where we exist in the film. 

Furthermore, I feel that suspense remains ever-present in Fallen. Never knowing who the next victim will be or where the villain lurks plays a pivotal role in how viewers participate in and access the film. Viewers’ heads are constantly on a swivel, as they hope to anticipate what might happen next, Hobbes’ next move, or where the whole of the film is headed. 

It certainly feels like Fallen possesses a number of flaws, while only retaining a few compelling components. However, as I previously mentioned, the components that worked for me really worked for me. It’s a strong outing for the variety of actors (even if many of them are given very little to do); the narrative is compelling; the brilliant cinematic decisions allow Fallen to remain vibrant and accessible; and the continued suspense plays a pivotal role in viewers remaining interested and invested in what Kazan and Hoblit develop. The pros ultimately far outweigh the cons, keep Fallen afloat, and provide me a reason to stay engaged from start to finish. 

Directed by Gregory Hoblit. 

Written by Nicholas Kazan. 

Starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Gabriel Casseus, Michael J. Pagan, etc. 

6.5/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE 

Make sure to check out the full Reel Reactions w/ Greg & Kyle review featuring Wes Huntington, Jon Seymour, Greg Vorob, and yours truly by heading over to Spotify.