Frozen
Director: Adam Green

Stars: Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell
Review by Brian M. Sammons

When I saw previews for this movie my first thought was that it looked like the treading water for sixty minuets flick, Open Water. You know, a “real life” horror story that’s supposed to be all the more chilling because it could happen to you. That’s all fine and good, but Water left me all wet (ha) and this movie looked to be more of the same, except on a ski slope instead of the ocean. But then I saw who directed it, Adam Green of Hatchet fame, and since I really dug that film, and I liked the idea of him trying his hand at something new instead of playing it safe with another slasher flick, so I thought, “what the hell, lets give it a watch.”

The story is deceptively simple; three friends get stuck on a ski lift in the middle of winter at the start of a weeklong shutdown of the ski resort. From there the question of “what would you do” will hit you again and again as things go from worse to worse like when the winter storm moves in and the wolves begin to gather below. Really, that’s all there is to it, so this movie will be made or lost on the strength of the actors and the director’s skill.

Luckily, Frozen has plenty of great examples of both. The three young actors come off as believable and more importantly, likeable. When they make jokes, you laugh; when they are scared, you feel it. With such a striped down cast as this, believable acting is all important and this movie delivers.

The other side of the equation is Adam Green and his directing abilities. Once again Frozen doesn’t disappoint. The movie looks great, the tension builds nicely, and even when some things happen that seem a tad unrealistic, like the most persistent and patient wolf pack ever, you can overlook it because the story flows so smoothly.

To complement this very fine movie is a very fine Blu-ray from Anchor Bay. The picture looks great, which is good since there is a lot of pretty scenery to be seen as the trio of friends face cold, certain death. There’s an audio commentary by the director and the three stars and a second commentary track with the people responsible for making this movie look so good, namely the director again but with the cinematographer and editor this time. There are also a trio of entertaining featurettes about the before, during, and after processes of making this movie. Deleted scenes and trailers are the icing on this frosty cake of Frozen extras.

For a nice slice of real world horror that won’t put you to sleep like other movies about such things, not to mention keep you on the edge of your seat and chilled to the bone (sorry, couldn’t help myself), I can’t recommend Frozen high enough.

About Brian M. Sammons

Brian M. Sammons has penned stories that have appeared in the anthologies: Arkham Tales, Horrors Beyond, Monstrous, Dead but Dreaming 2, Horror for the Holidays, Deepest, Darkest Eden and others. He has edited the books; Cthulhu Unbound 3, Undead & Unbound, Eldritch Chrome, Edge of Sundown, Steampunk Cthulhu, Dark Rites of Cthulhu, Atomic Age Cthulhu, World War Cthulhu and Flesh Like Smoke. He is also the managing editor of Dark Regions Press’ Weird Fiction line. For more about this guy that neighbors describe as “such a nice, quiet man” you can check out his infrequently updated webpage here: http://brian_sammons.webs.com/ and follow him on Twitter @BrianMSammons.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This