127 Hours (2010)

Plot synopsis of 127 Hours (2010)

The movie begins with an avid mountaineer, Aron Ralston, placing all his stuff inside the rucksack for trekking. He then leaves his house and drives to Utah’s Canyonlands National Park without telling anyone. While driving, Aron notices the road sign indicating his safe arrival at the destination. Aron takes out his camcorder to video himself and says he finally enters the Canyonlands alone.

Afterward, he parks his car along with other vehicles at a campsite. He takes his rest before embarking on his first expedition the next day. After sleeping in the Canyonlands for a single night, Aron eagerly sets off on his first bike expedition in the region. He is so delighted to finally be making his way to Blue John Canyon that he even shouts a joyful whoop in the middle of the desert.

He then stops cycling to start filming a video diary on his camcorder. In the video, he says that the big-drop rappel in Blue John Canyon takes 4.5 hours, based on the information he found in his guidebook. However, Aron challenges himself to complete it in only 45 minutes.

Aron continues cycling afterward, but because of his speed, he eventually falls off the bike. Yet, Aron ignores it and even takes a picture of himself. Shortly after, Aron pulls over, secures his bike to a smoke tree with a rope, and sets out on foot. Before he moves, he pauses to take in the breathtaking panorama of the Canyonlands.

After that, Aron continues until he comes across hikers Kristi and Megan. Aron goes up to them and learns they got lost while trying to reach the dome. Eventually, Aron makes friends with Kristi and Megan. He offers to accompany them to the dome for free, which they accept.

It takes little time for the trio to reach the dome, and once there, Aron shows Kristi and Megan the underground pool by jumping from above. Kristi and Megan hesitate, unsure if they should follow Aron. Aron reassures them that it will be completely safe. Seconds after making up their minds, Kristi and Megan finally join Aron in the underground pool.

Kristi and Megan feel great that Aron did not let them go home without first having a wonderful time. Because of that, they thank Aron for spending his short time with them. They then invite him to a party at a motel in the Green River area, which Aron happily accepts.

Aron continues through a slot canyon in Blue John Canyon afterward. While climbing, a boulder Aron is hanging from comes loose and causes both of them to fall. It traps his right arm against the wall, making it nearly impossible to remove it from under the boulder. Frustrated, Aron stops trying as he realizes the boulder will not budge. He tries shouting Kristi and Megan’s names, but learns that he cannot be heard.

Upon realizing he is alone, Aron takes his belongings from his rucksack and places them above the boulder. He calms himself for a moment and uses his pocket knife to chip away parts of the boulder. However, the knife suddenly falls to the ground. Aron tries reaching it using a stick and luckily manages to retrieve it.

Aron spends the remaining day chipping away at the boulder, but it only decreases slightly. Because of this, Aron thinks of another idea: setting up a pulley using his climbing rope in a futile attempt to lift the boulder. Twenty-four hours have passed, but Aron is still trapped in Blue John Canyon and begins to hallucinate slowly.

Because of this, Aron records a video diary using his camcorder to maintain morale. In the video, he asks anyone who might find the camcorder to contact his parents immediately. He also tells the story of how he got trapped. Later that night, Aron covers himself with a rope to keep warm. He rests throughout the night to gather strength for another attempt the next day, but his thoughts keep him awake.

On his second day, Aron tries again. He uses the pulley he set up and attempts to lift the boulder, but his low energy—caused by dehydration—prevents him from applying enough force. Despite wanting to drink more, Aron saves his water since only 300 ml remains in his bottle.

Aron records another video afterward. This time, he explains his failed attempt to pull the boulder and realizes that his climbing rope is not suitable for removing large rocks; only a static wrap rope could do it. After that, Aron checks his water bottle and discovers that only 150 ml remains. He pours his urine into his CamelBak tube insulation, thinking he might drink it if he runs out of water.

On the third day, Aron fashions a tourniquet from the CamelBak tube insulation while continuing to chip away at the boulder. He uses a carabiner to tighten it and attempts to break the bones in his right arm so he can amputate it using a multi-tool, believing his hand is supporting the rock. However, the multi-tool is unsharpened because he bought it cheaply. Aron blames himself for not bringing his Swiss knife.

Instead of snapping angrily on video, Aron explains what happened and urges viewers to be careful shoppers. He continues rambling until he begins hallucinating about his family.

On the fourth day, Aron wakes up extremely thirsty. He opens his bottle and takes a sip, but it is not enough. Desperate, he removes one of his soft contact lenses and swallows it. Suddenly, the bottle slips through his legs, leaving him depressed and triggering another hallucination—this time about his former girlfriend, Rana.

The sound of thunder startles Aron out of his hallucination, and he rushes to retrieve his bottle. He collects rainwater as it falls and drinks from stagnant water to combat dehydration. However, the sudden rain also triggers his third hallucination, this time of escaping his entrapment.  

Because of that, Aron screams out of frustration. The following day, Aron records himself on his fifth day of being stranded in Blue John Canyon. In the video, Aron’s hallucination transforms him into a newscaster who treats himself like a character in a television news program.

Afterward, he begins his recording with a message to his loved ones, expressing regret for not informing them of his whereabouts or the duration of his absence. The narrative then continues with Aron imagining his coworker realizing that he has been missing for days and calling the police to rescue him.

In his last entry recorded on the camcorder, Aron delivers a heartfelt message to his parents, expressing his deep appreciation for them. Aron then makes his second attempt at amputating his right arm. Due to hallucinations, he unconsciously stabs his arm with the multi-tool. Using his knowledge of torque, he breaks the bones in his arm.

Over the next few days, Aron is forced to drink his urine when his water supply runs out. He struggles against the taste in order to stay hydrated. Afterward, Aron rests and watches videos on his camcorder, where he discovers that Kristi and Megan left him a message expressing their concern for him. However, watching the video makes Aron aroused, causing him to close it and distract himself with other activities.

Aron begins carving his name into the rocks as a distraction. He pauses when he hears a voice echoing through the canyon, making him wonder if someone is nearby. After flashing the camera in the darkness, Aron initially believes he has captured a mascot, but it turns out to be another hallucination. When he looks at the camera again, he sees only a dark section of the canyon.

As the days pass, Aron becomes increasingly desperate and depressed. He hallucinates about escape, relationships, and past experiences involving his family and his former girlfriend, Rana. Aron wraps a bandage around his wounded arm to stop the bleeding. Another hallucination sets in, during which Aron dreams about breaking up with Rana.

As Aron loses consciousness due to a rapid heartbeat and dehydration, he opens his camcorder and records himself for the final time. The hallucinations intensify, causing him to feel dizzy and contemplate the possibility of death. Despite his weakening state, Aron continues recording messages until the camcorder’s battery drains. He reveals his frustration over repeatedly failing to break the boulder and even wishes that a meteorite might fall and free him.

After finishing the recording, running animals in the canyon cause Aron to breathe heavily as he coughs from the stirred-up sand. He soon loses consciousness. While unconscious, Aron has a vision of his future son, which reignites his will to survive. Because of this vision, Aron awakens and exerts all his strength to break the bones in his right arm, tightening a carabiner to assist him. He then slowly amputates his arm with the multi-tool, screaming in agony from the pain.

Finally, Aron frees himself from the boulder and survives. He wraps the stump to prevent exsanguination. As he prepares to leave, Aron pauses to take a photograph of the boulder. After spending days trapped in darkness, he is relieved to emerge from the canyon and leaps joyfully into the sunlight.

However, amid his celebration, Aron notices murky water below. He immediately uses his rope to descend and immerses himself in the filthy water. He uses it to hydrate himself and washes his face in preparation for the long trek ahead. Aron then sets out into the desert in search of an escape route.

Despite the heat and recurring hallucinations, Aron gathers the courage to continue. He unexpectedly encounters a family on a desert trip and desperately calls out to them for help. The family notices Aron, rushes over, and offers him water.

The movie ends with Aron having endured his ordeal of being stranded in Blue John Canyon for several days. The family contacts the Utah Highway Patrol, who arrive quickly and rush Aron to the hospital before he loses consciousness. It is later revealed that Aron participates in multiple press interviews to share his experience.

Even more remarkably, Aron meets his future wife years later. His hallucination of having a son while trapped in Blue John Canyon turns out to be an accurate premonition. Aron eventually settles down, finds a partner, and welcomes a son into the world. However, it is also revealed that Aron continues climbing—but this time, he always leaves a note for his loved ones stating his whereabouts.

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Full movie recap of 127 Hours (2010)