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The other day, someone (most likely me) noted that Hollywood has never really discontinued the making of B pictures. Instead, they simply gave $100 million to make them A pictures. Vertical Limit is an example: It is blatantly constructed from formulas and conflicts of a pulp novel, yet well acted and skillfully made. The movie is similar to The Perfect Storm, yet another tale of man’s struggle against unforgiving nature. One distinction is “Storm” shows the character’s egos and blunders honestly and makes them suffer for it, while “Vertical Limit “ with a smile, heads towards one of those endings in which everyone receives what they deserve, one way or another, except a few expendable supporting characters.
The introduction of nitroglycerin into a plot is always a danger signal. Nitro has been featured in classic movies like “The Wages of Fear” and “Sorcerer”, but even there it has the most remarkable property of exploding exactly according to the needs of the story.
In “Vertical Limit,” explosive nitroglycerin is introduced into a plot where three climbers are trapped in an ice cave at K2’s peak. These characters include a cynical millionaire (‘this is a life statement for me’), a seasoned guide, and the hero’s sister. The protagonist manages to assemble a team of six volunteers willing to embark on what might be considered a death wish rescue mission. They come prepared with nitroglycerin, and while I understand that explosives are occasionally set off on mountains to trigger avalanches, the film never bothers to explain how a nitroglycerin explosion would help the trapped victims instead of harm them. The one scene where nitroglycerin is used does not shed light on this mystery.
At this point, a great portion of the nitroglycerin just serves the purpose of endangering the rest of the rescue party, providing n suspense, shocking us with unintended explosions, and eliminating – in the most inexpedient way possible – all but the climax of the drama. The nitro is proof that ‘Vertical Limit’ is not really a heartfelt movie that documents the perils and ethics of mountaineering. It is in fact, a thriller disguised with loads of snow. However, at this point, it is very good, and I can recommend the movie as a B grade adventure while speculating what an A grade would have looked like if it had the same content . Chris O’Donnell plays the part of a National Geographic photographer, Peter Garrett. He is seen with his sister Annie (played by Robin Tunney) and their father during the title sequence, which comes to a close as Peter cuts a rope that sends their father plummeting to his death, whilst saving himself and Annie. Had things gone any other way, three lives will have, or rather are about to, be extinguished. Peter and Annie don’t share the same opinion of this, although their mythical toeless mountaineer Montgomery Wick (Scott Glenn) does tell Peter that he did the right thing, and as one may expect, will make a final decision and return to the movie sooner or later.
Renowned climber Annie was on the mountain with the millionaire Elliot Vaughn (Bill Paxton) and the ace guide, Tom McLaren (Nicholas Lea). Vaughn, an airline owner, has dreams of being on the summit of K2 while his inaugural flight zooms over the mountain. This dream requires a risky climb in bad weather which is worsened when strong-willed Vaughn overrides McLaren’s logical decision to turn back.
Climbing mountains always gives me the same unsettling nightmares. One of them is plummeting down from extreme heights while continuously scolding myself for putting myself in such a ridiculous position. There are a few climbing documentaries I’ve watched where climbers accomplish jaw dropping feats, but they don’t compare to the jaw-dropping ones in the movie, “Vertical Limit.” The effects and stunts are beautifully crafted to the point where they create genuine suspense. Even though we would often want to yell out instructions at the screen, we cared deeply about what was happening and became invested throughout the scenes. (In one scene, a climber is hanging by an arm over the edge of a cliff, and another climber walks up to the edge, which is at a fearsome angle, while completely unbuckled. Another scene shows a climber placing her ice-ax too close to the edge while she’s anchored.) One effective sequence shows six rescuers being helicopter dropped at twenty-two thousand feet at great risk to the pilot. Other scenes capture just how sudden and wrong things can go. Just like any deadline, there are absolute truths that come with the mountain, such as suffering from dehydration. Great acting from Glenn as the callous climber with a specific agenda completes the show.
Efficiently and artistically, “Vertical Limit” delivers on its promises. There are times, when the characters are suspended a mile over a drop, when we don’t even care how the film is playing with our emotions.
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