Le Froid de L'Enfer

"Cold Hell" is an impressive German film released in 2017. The lead character's performance is simply outstanding. Right from the beginning, you can't help but empathize with her, but as the story progresses, she becomes someone you can't help but dislike. It's a realistic portrayal of a person with a troubled past, as often happens in real life, where people tend to push others away and reject help. However, despite its strengths, the movie could have benefited from more suspense and a stronger antagonist to heighten the overall experience.

The film effectively captures the audience's attention with its engaging storyline and the exceptional acting prowess of the main character. From the very start, we are drawn into her world, feeling a deep sense of empathy for the challenges she faces. As the narrative unfolds, we witness her transformation into a character we find it hard to root for. This evolution is a testament to the actress's remarkable talent in portraying complex emotions and internal conflicts.

"Cold Hell" does a commendable job in shedding light on the harsh realities of life, particularly when it comes to individuals who have endured difficult circumstances. The film authentically portrays the tendency of some people to reject assistance and further isolate themselves, even when presented with opportunities to make positive choices. This portrayal adds depth and relatability to the story, allowing viewers to reflect on the complexities of human behavior and the consequences of personal history.

While "Cold Hell" excels in its character development and exploration of real-life struggles, it falls slightly short in terms of suspense and the strength of its antagonist. Though the film keeps you engaged, it could have benefited from a more palpable sense of tension and anticipation throughout. Additionally, a more formidable and memorable killer would have enhanced the overall impact of the story. By intensifying these elements, the movie could have provided a more gripping and thrilling experience for the audience.

Overall, "Cold Hell" is a solid German film that delivers powerful performances and delves into the intricacies of human nature. It effectively portrays the complexities of a character shaped by a difficult past and the repercussions of her choices. While it could have offered more suspense and a stronger antagonist, the film still manages to captivate viewers with its emotional depth and thought-provoking themes.

This is no Ben Hur or Lawrence of Arabia but I find myself watching this movie again and again when I don't know what I want to watch that night. I believe I must have watched it 10 times already and I know that I'll still watch it again. Based on this phenomenon alone, I have raised my rating to 9. The editing is quite good too and the art direction is well planned especially the colours. The main characters are not perfect but they both have guts and a softer, finer side. The more I watch this movie, the more I realize that I'm drawn to the characters' authentic personalities and the chemistry between them. They don't fit the Hollywood "handsome" or "gorgeous" moulds but I find them attractive and charismatic. And what can I say, I just love movies where the women can fight back!

After witnessing a brutal murder, a woman finds herself targeted by a misogynistic serial killer who uses his religion as an excuse to butcher women. 'Cold Hell (2017)' is a gritty neo-noir thriller clearly inspired by works such as 'Taxi Driver (1976)', especially in its bluesy score. It's downbeat and gritty, though it does have moments of levity sprinkled throughout, and it deals with some tough subject matter in a compelling way. The lead character is especially stoic but you're always on her side, even when she makes some questionable decisions, and her dark past is revealed to us slowly but surely over the course of the narrative. Her typically unspoken backstory gives good reason for her to be as guarded as she is, adding a layer of subtext to the closed-off performance by a consistently good, if not flashy, Violetta Schurawlow. There are several well-choreographed fights and chases that have an appropriate amount of weight to them, with the violence typically being brutal and crunchy. It gets you on the edge of your seat on more than one occasion. Often, you can't help but get a little giddy, I suppose, when the protagonist is bashing a bad guy's head in; it's not fun violence, don't get me wrong, but it's good to see the often battered lead finally get her own back. One thing that is good about the piece is the fact that the hero knows how to handle herself right from the off, yet is still fallible to the same mistakes anyone would make if being hunted by a monstrous killer. Just because she knows how to fight doesn't mean she isn't scared of the concept of someone trying to end her life. It's a fine-tuned dynamic that undeniably adds believability to the plot. The picture, of course, isn't perfect. It is rather slow and, even, somewhat repetitive in its mid-section, almost becoming a different type of film to what you'd expect. This isn't too detrimental, since the thing is always entertaining and engaging, but it does lose a little bit of steam before it picks up the pace again for its final act. Still, the flick is effective overall. It's a solid thriller that easily keeps you watching from beginning to end. 7/10.

Centring around fast paced action, but leaving ample room for genuine character development that adds weight to the inevitable violence. Violetta Schurawlow's heroin is a dead pan badass who's easy to root for whether she's navigating personal drama or a vicious psychopath. The film commits to a cool, noir style through it's dreary score and dark but stylish visuals that nod to vintage giallo.

And I mean that in the nicest sense possible. Really I do! Of course if you feel that is an insult, you probably don't like movies like that. Sleazy thrillers, made a couple of decades ago. They were very successful and had charm to them. Very comparable to this one, which has flaws in many departments and you could argue that the characters are not all around likable (especially the police man who gets drawn into the center of it all).

Still this is very empowering to women, even when it doesn't look like it at the beginning. There's still nudity and action and gore and all that. But there's also a lot of humor in it. Of course not everyone will find the same things funny, but the movie does not take prisoners and goes some extra miles ... even when introducing characters and giving us a "father-figure" who almost feels out of place in this. So again, it is messy and it is far from perfect ... but that is what makes it so enticing.