Cliffhanger is a 1993 action thriller movie directed by Renny Harlin and starring Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, and Michael Rooker. The movie follows a group of mountain climbers who become embroiled in a heist while attempting to rescue a group of stranded hikers in the Rocky Mountains. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is the jet crash scene, which is a thrilling and harrowing sequence that leaves audiences on the edge of their seats.
The Context of the Scene
The jet crash scene takes place towards the end of the movie when the villains are attempting to escape with the stolen money. They hijack a small jet and take off from a makeshift runway on a mountaintop. The protagonist, Gabe (played by Stallone), chases after them on a snowmobile and manages to jump onto the tail of the jet as it takes off.
The Build-Up to the Crash
As Gabe climbs onto the jet, he fights off one of the villains and manages to enter the cockpit. He tries to take control of the jet and stop it from taking off, but the other villain shoots him in the arm. Gabe is forced to retreat to the tail of the jet and hold on for dear life as it takes off.
The scene then cuts to a group of hikers who are stranded on a nearby mountain. They hear the sound of the jet taking off and look up to see it flying low over the mountaintops. The tension builds as they realize that the jet is heading straight for them.
The Crash
The jet flies towards the stranded hikers at breakneck speed, and it becomes clear that it is going to crash. The scene is expertly shot, with the camera following the jet as it hurtles towards the mountain. The tension is palpable as the audience waits for the impact.
When the jet crashes, it explodes in a massive fireball that engulfs the entire mountain. The special effects are impressive, and the scene is made even more thrilling by the fact that the audience has become emotionally invested in the fate of the stranded hikers.
The Aftermath
After the crash, Gabe manages to climb back up to the wreckage of the jet and confronts the villains. There is a tense standoff, but Gabe ultimately manages to defeat them and save the day.
The jet crash scene is a masterclass in tension and suspense. It is a testament to the skill of the filmmakers that they were able to create such a thrilling sequence that still holds up over 25 years later. If you haven’t seen Cliffhanger yet, it’s definitely worth a watch just for this scene alone.
