Freeze

When I sat down to watch the 2022 movie "Freeze", I had never heard about it, so I didn't know what I was in for, aside from it being some sort of horror movie with some amphibian creatures. And that actually sounded interesting enough to make me pick up the movie and give it a twirl.

The storyline in "Freeze", as written by Charlie Steeds, who also directed the movie, was actually entertaining. It was definitely something a bit more different than what I had imagined, as I assumed it to be another run-of-the-mill creature feature. But it turned out that "Freeze" was actually a movie taking place in the Lovecraft Mythos. See, if I had known that beforehand, I would have tracked the movie down, because I thoroughly enjoy the cosmic dread spun in the Lovecraft Mythos.

"Freeze" was a movie that definitely felt like it belonged within the Mythos, because it was somewhat reminiscent of the "At the Mountains of Madness" story from H. P. Lovecraft, but also connecting with the "Dagon" story as well. There were lots of obvious references, and also some more subtle ones.

The acting performances in "Freeze" were good. I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble in this 2022 movie from writer and director Charlie Steeds. But I will say that they put on good performances.

Visually then "Freeze" was quite good. The sets, props and wardrobe definitely felt like an era-set movie. But especially the Ichthyoids - the amphibian arctic-dwelling creatures. For being all practical effects and such, I was really impressed with what they accomplished here. Great creature designs and they looked realistic - well, as realistic as make-believe monsters can - on the screen.

If you enjoy the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, then you most certainly have to sit down and watch "Freeze", should you have the opportunity to do so. I was genuinely entertained by this movie. "Freeze" is a good addition to the cinema set in the Lovecraft Mythos, whereas many other such movies tend to be dubious results. This one is worth the time, money and effort.

My rating of "Freeze" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Well, I've seen it. You need to see it, otherwise you would not believe that something like this is possible in the year of 2022. If this movie would have been shot, let's say in 1925, it might, perhaps, have been a mediocre movie, despite the bad acting, the ridiculous monsters and the obvious disregard of the fact, that it is cold, in fact, freezing, when all around you is covered with snow, and so on., I do wonder who was willing to finance such a disaster, and find actors desperate enough to participate in such a movie. I guess the producer must be a very convincing person with an hypnotic aura.

Don't get me wrong now, I absolutely love the horror industry, and when considering movies, I do my very best to find excuses for weaker ones. I can talk about the budget, the experience of the people involved in the making, the conditions, the meddling from the studios and so on.

Freeze failed on absolutely every aspect:

• terrible monsters. The costumes weren't abysmal but their movement, the sounds just amateur all the way.

• killshots. Whenever it is time for a killshot or for some suspense, we get fade to black and a scream.

• effects. Practical but sadly all bad.

• plot. Definitely not ok. You witness more dialogue than anything else.

• no tensions, eyecandy, nudity, gore.

Sadly it really is a prime example of how not to do a horror. For me it looked more like live theatre, also done very badly. It just did not work and it is absolutely impossible to take it serious.

You need about 15 minutes and you realise that this one...is not good.

Cheers.

The movie gives a nod to H. P. Lovecraft, and uses creatures that would be at home in a Roger Corman movie. It is not a movie of a ship being stranded in the Arctic for years, and their survival. Although they are in search of the crew and Captain Streiner, who set out to try and sail to the North Pole, so this was set in the 19th Century, with sailing ships. Their ship also get trapped in the ice, and then creatures, ichthyoids, come aboard and do some killing. What is left of the crew flees the ship, and there is also a woman who was a stowaway on the ship who also leaves. They are able to find a cave, which also has quite a few ichthyoids present, and they also find Captain Streiner, but his crew was all killed, but he managed to survive. The scenery is interesting, a vast snow wasteland, but when the people are outside, they really aren't dressed for the cold. Coats unbuttoned, no hats and only in one scene did they have gloves on. It could have been really interesting, but instead missed the mark.

Pure garbage!

This movie starts off with 35 minutes of pointlessness.

That's act 1. I don't want to write spoilers here so I'll just tell you it doesn't get better, it gets worse and worse and worse.

The plot holes are massive. I mean you would have to suspend all reality of society to believe some of the things that occur to set up the "story" or "plot" or whatever this thing is.

There are other parts where you will just shake your head and ask: Why. That's the main question. This is utter nonsense. Unless you're into watching a plot that moves in ways that confuse you and make you annoyed, I would avoid this movie. Not good.