Sylvester Stallone is known for his Rocky films, a franchise in Hollywood that remains one of the most influential pieces of cinema. However, Stallone has starred in some lesser-known offerings, that are nonetheless brilliant and engaging, if not a completely different genre from what the actor is used to.
Cliffhanger was a 1993 action thriller that starred Stallone, Michael Rooker, John Lithgow, and Janine Turner. The film might not have been as widely received as his other franchises like Rambo and Rocky, but the film has one of the most terrifying scenes of Stallone’s career.
Cliffhanger has one particular scene that horrifies fans to this day
Sylvester Stallone’s action thriller Cliffhanger has one of the most nail-biting scenes ever put to cinema, which sees Stallone try to attempt a rescue over a deep plunge where Michelle Joyner’s Sarah is dangling from a faulty rope.
Of course, it was expected in the film that Stallone would save her, but the circumstances of the rescue caused the character to fall to her death. While the audience is not aware of the fact that the character is about to die, the tension of the scene is something that still resonates with fans today.
What is an image from a film that still haunts you? pic.twitter.com/hqmZnadwyW
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) May 23, 2024
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The film’s opening with the traumatic death sets the tone for the rest of the movie, which revolves around the guilt that Stallone’s character feels at not being able to save Sarah. However, such a narrative beat so early in the film was not something that was the convention at the time for something that’s not a horror film.
The death of Sarah sets up the conflict for the character perfectly, something that is unraveled over the course of the film as Sylvester Stallone attempts another daring rescue.
Sylvester Stallone’s Cliffhanger is getting a sequel, almost 30 years after its initial release
Cliffhanger 2 had been officially announced in 2023, with Sylvester Stallone returning in the role of Ranger Walker. The sequel will be written by Mark Bianculli, who has written films like The Good Neighbor, and the TV show Hunters. Stallone’s own Balboa Pictures will be producing the film in conjunction with Original Film and Rocket Science
Cliffhanger 2 in 2023 was announced after 2019 saw the announcement of a female-led Cliffhanger reboot, which audiences can assume will not be going forward. The film will see Stallone return, but it remains to be seen what story the characters have left to tell in its sequel.