Cold Meat

I'm a sucker for low budget, few characters, isolation films. They can be hit or miss but I appreciated this one. I suggest going in blind and roll with it. It has its faults, a few minor things I would have changed/added but the acting was good, dialog was well written, and had some good use of timeline creativity. I don't want to say anymore more because not really knowing was a key pro for me. It's more of an watch alone for horror fans. I wouldn't play it for a friend movie night. It's no blockbuster but overall I was kept interested.

Also, props to the Downton Abbey actor, he has more range than I would have given him credit for.

Well, here I am, start to the week, work finished, feet up and so I fancied watching something online. Cold Meat came up unexpectedly, and unexpectedly I quite liked the premise of the film.

The opening scenes had my attention mostly due to the location and diner type feel (those diners that seem to look like bigger than average Trailer Units). The acting is good and when there is interaction it feels so in a not unnatural way which is always a plus for me in movies such as this.

Anyway, as other reviews have said, there are plenty of twists and turns so it will keep one's attention and interest. The acting between the two leads is good and you can see the effort they have put into portraying their respective characters.

I think movie lovers will enjoy this is probably my overall verdict.

I understand this was filmed in a short time but I have to say the film is well made, enjoyed the lighting, cinematography, and editing.

This is a real thriller, but few people will be interested in just listening to the usual dialogues during the main action. The film was shot and directed well, but no more (in my opinion, of course) I liked the acting, but I wasn't interested... The main twist of the story, which will present a really unexpected surprise, is already read at the end of the first scene, while it is not obvious and well disguised. The monster itself is presented in the film only in order to diversify the narrative and enliven a slightly boring chronicle of events. The parallel between the villain and the monster seems invisible, but I was hoping to see the majestic philosophy of the struggle between good and evil. In this context, plot twists are necessary that would reveal unexpected motives, however, unfortunately, their absence makes everything too straightforward - the hunter and the victim become prey for an even more cruel beast under the influence of unforeseen circumstances.

First things first: if you've seen the trailer and that's why you're here, forget it. The trailer is hella misleading.

Secondly, yeah this a a pretty wordy/talky movie, there's few to no Big Action Scenes or Big Chase Scenes. The dialogue IS pretty decent, though.

Thirdly, yeah there are some continuity issues in the editing, but that's no big surprise for a first-timer, and unless you're REALLY picky it doesn't ruin the movie.

All that being said this is absolutely worth a watch, even if it could have benefited from being a little bit longer in the runtime and maybe, just maybe, using the chloroform more realistically? Anyway, I had no idea what I was getting into with this movie, only that it was recommended by a YouTuber I tend to get great recs from, and I was absolutely impressed. Especially considering it's a first-time effort from the director.

This little indie movie does a decent job of combining certain popular psych thriller / horror tropes. The only two I'll list for fear of giving too much away are the use of isolated settings - in this case the first trope is Colorado Rockies just outside a tiny town during a blizzard. The second trope is the indomitable human will to survive the most unforgiving situations.

With that, enter main character David - an apparently mild mannered smallish 30 something guy just trying to get home in the early hours of a massive snow storm. Then enter pretty waitress in the only diner for miles that is trying to serve pie to David because the kitchen is otherwise closed. Then enter drunk and large boyfriend of said waitress who decides to smack her around in front of smallish David.

From the diner, we will eventually get back on those mountain roads, into an ever worsening and rather unpredictable storm. A storm that will prove to be the backdrop and indeed a growling character in itself as the two main characters fight to survive.

My main criticism of the movie will be the last 20 minutes. Without saying more substantively, I believe Directors missed an opportunity to make a much better and more horrifying movie. Instead we were left with a sudden and flat ending.

The acting was solid. The sets and cinematography are quite well done. But as often happens in B-land, the movie sputtered out.