This could be called a big budget I Shouldn't Be Alive episode in some regards except I actually prefer the main focus on the plight of the victims. But from a perspective as a Christian, I enjoyed the emphasis on prayer and faith, which naturally found it necessary to show the many family dynamics. We see the mom who is too organized, the dad who is a big irresponsible teenager, and the teen boyfriend who is unfairly disliked... This all wraps up into a warm feel-good ending. However, I would not have rekindled a relationship w/a man who is so arrogant and controlling as to have almost cost me my life. This film makes a huge point to try and show he's completely out of control and extremely manipulating. Since it's a real story, I won't blame the writers.
And on a side note, the 'where did they go to survival school' review here is not completely accurate - - You never go down into an unknown mountainous valley in a snow-bound venue or any unfamiliar venue audibly hearing a strong river or visually seeing how to get back up. You can become trapped and many people have died this way. Going down is easy; coming up, not so much. The main thing this couple did wrong was to not get out in a clearing and build a big fire as soon as the weather cleared. I would have dug a shelter and stayed put near a clearing with some form of communication -- branches spelling SOS is a common thing rescuers would look for. You definitely can die if you accidentally fall asleep in the snow. No one is suggesting you can't go to sleep in snow if you've built a fire and have prepared for it. What can happen is that as you get weaker and your body prepares to die it can simply make you fall asleep to make the process simple and painless. You do have to be very aware of this if you're at that stage.
I love the ocean but I would rather get lost in the snow since I would have a better chance of survival in snow than in open water. (just thinking out loud).
