Distraught, Eileen ventures into the water, finds Lydia's seemingly drowned body, and cradles her apparently dead daughter, realising that her emotional frigidity has done more harm to her than she knew.

"[12] Guy Lodge of Variety called it "an imperfect but alluring study of psychological contagion that marks an auspicious advance in the field of narrative filmmaking for acclaimed docu maker Carol Morley".

[14] Trevor Johnston of Time Out London rated it four out of five stars and wrote, "Carol Morley shows startling versatility and ambition with this jawdropping mash-up of If... and Picnic at Hanging Rock".

[16] Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent rated it four out of five stars and wrote, "Carol Morley's The Falling is beguiling and disturbing, a beautifully made and very subtle affair that combines melodrama, rites of passage and supernatural elements in an utterly intriguing way.

"[17] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated it five out of five stars and wrote, "Director Carol Morley has come up with another brilliant and very distinctive feature, about an epidemic of fainting that grips a girls school in the 1960s.

"[18] Elise Nakhnikian of Slant Magazine gave a less favourable review, writing that "the film all leads to a melodramatic climax that wraps up the main character's explosive acting out in a too-neat package.

"[19] David Jenkins of Little White Lies also gave an unfavourable review, writing, "Carol Morley follows up the mesmerising Dreams of a Life with a tedious period drama set in an all-girls school.

"[20] Simon Wessely writing in The Lancet Psychiatry noted that the film "beautifully captured" the original 1973 case report of an episode of mass psychogenic illness that was its inspiration.