Review of Fallen (1998) by Blanche C — 11 Feb 2014

On the surface, Fallen sounded like a film with a really good premise and it started Denzel Washington in the lead role, so I simply had to see it.

Unfortunately, Fallen proved to be another example of a film with a high-concept plot that is let down by poor execution.

While Nicholas Kazan's plot is clever and very original and his screenplay is mostly decently written with the exception of some lame jokes, it is wasted. The story about the hunt for Azazel is turned into just another slasher film, except it's one that has a pace too slow for its own good and extended periods of nothing going on. When the film introduces some dramatic elements, it does it well and makes it rather intense. But there isn't enough of it, instead of just a lot of talking and not enough action.

Fallen spends too much time with its characters talking and it forgets that its story is supernatural. The character Detective John Hobbes casually accepts the fact that his enemy is a demon and tries to hunt it like a human most of the time, and so the film is too careless into putting any depth into the exploration of its premise. And this is particuralaly bad because its one of the most high-concept thrillers I've seen in a long time and it could have done so much right with its premise, but director Gregory Hoblit doesn't know what it is.

What it is would be to spend more focus on the thrills instead of the extensive periods of waiting between dramatic scenes where the only thing going on is talking, and the dialogue isn't key to the film or insightful to the characters so it just results in a lot of waiting. That's what Fallen is, a lot of waiting between its good climactic moments and twist ending while slight noir elements take play during all the talking. If you have patience, a low standard for thriller films and an unrelenting love of Denzel Washington, then Fallen is the film for you. However, I only possess one of those and therefore found myself unimpressed.

I was impressed with Denzel Washington though, because as always he delivers a powerful performance where his ferocity and determination as an actor takes over the character, rendering Detective John Hobbes one that is easy to sympathise for and care about. Denzel Washington is the only thing making the story more meaningful in Fallen, and he deserves praise for that.

John Godoman supplies a decent job too and he shares a strong chemistry with Denzel Washington which establishes a connection between them, making the story a little bit better.

Donald Sutherland and Elias Koteas do their part as well.

But all in all, Fallen is a recycled and boring thriller which wastes a good premise and the talents of Denzel Washington.