The opening shots of waves and noise I could have done without, but from that first slide and hit of anxiety, this one delivers very simply and effectively. Essentially we have a single character, dropped onto a dangerously curved smooth piece of concrete, just about clinging to it with some small friction preventing her dropping into an abyss below. Perhaps there is some meaning to be taken from it about the nature of life or something like this, but if you are thinking about this while watching it, then the film has probably failed you because for me it was a very gut level film which rode that sense of fear and dread very well.
Credit to the actress, because she sells it, while the simplicity of the concept makes it easy to go with – there is not enough here to make you ask big questions or poke the logic of the situation; like the character herself, all you can do is try to survive the moment. In this way it is visually effective, and has strong sound work to add to the feeling. Like I said, the opening shots I could do without, but after this it is as simple as it is unsettlingly effective.
