Dead of Winter

The more I think of the plot the more painfully incredulous the motivating factors of the antagonists are laid bare. It is more than a bit bizarre and you wonder why on earth you would think they could do this.

Having said that, Emma Thompson really does carry the film. Her characters emotional depth is certainly felt and we instantly know how her backstory influences the decisions she makes during the course of the film.

The barrenness of the winter landscape certainly adds to the sense of emotional desolation but also later the strange sense of peaceful solitude.

Still, I think the initially different tone of this thriller develops into a fairly absurd plot that lets the film down a bit.

I just watched. My rating is 5.0 - average at best.

What I like: the movie, most of all, has good cinematography. The barren, snow covered winter setting looks so peaceful, like someplace you'd read about in a Robert Frost poem. I like the lead actress. She is likable and charming, with her Sarah Palin-esque lines. The movie's set-up is excellent: the first 30-40 minutes really had me hooked, and I thought I was in for a great suspense/thriller

Unfortunately, I think the movie stumbles hard in the middle and end. The movie's pacing really begins to drag; certain scenes are drawn out to the point where they felt like fluff. Basically, I kept getting the feeling of, "Can this movie just move along now?" ... in addition, characters begin to make dumb decisions, like not killing someone when they have a chance. There's some bad CGI in the finale. The conclusion is unsatisfying. Given their intentions, the villains could and should have been presented with more shades of gray instead of the simple "they're the bad guys."

It's an average quality movie at best

5.0/10.

Written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb, both of which have been credited on some fine films, as musician and actor respectively. So, Dead of Winter was penned by two individuals without a single writers credit between them. How could it possibly go wrong? Watch this film, and find out.

To give it credit, the soundtrack and acting were beyond reproach. In fact, in all aspects apart from the plot, it is a very good film, especially considering that it was likely made to a budget.

It was however, an entertaining and involving 97 minutes, but only if you give yourself over to accepting the numerous bad decisions, plot holes, unfathomable motivations etc that it throws up at regular intervals. Thinking back, the dialogue was surprisingly believable, making it more frustrating to have it in service of such a sloppy plot.

The trailer for Dead of Winter made the film look pretty interesting. Unfortunately for me, the story doesn't do enough to make me care about the characters.

Positives!

+Emma Thompson and Judy Greer do a good job with the minimum script.

+Beautiful landscapes (Finland).

+Emmas character was smart in some situations.

+Good use of color grading (Barbs positive memories are vibrant while present is blue).

Negatives!

-No character development. Antagonists have no history.

-Antagonists don't have names! Just "Purple Lady and Camo Jacket".

-Over reliance on flashbacks that don't always have bearing on the story.

I was honestly bored watching Dead of Winter. I appreciate Barbs character details, even if sometimes it felt like too much. But the kidnappers get no story at all. Just little hints. Judy Greer is an amazing actress and was wasted. The film will be fine for most people, I just wanted more depth. 4/10.

-GremlinLord615.

-Full review on YouTube.

Barb makes a difficult trek through the snow to reach Lake Hilda, only to discover a young girl has been kidnapped. From that moment on, rescuing Leah becomes her mission - whether she's ready for it or not.

There's something wonderfully stripped back about this film. The story, the visuals, even the cast - everything is pared down to the essentials, yet there's a quiet intelligence running through it all. Nothing feels wasted, nothing feels overcooked. It's Scandi noir in all but passport, and you'll find yourself forming theories while watching, even though the real question becomes how on earth Barb is going to get herself and Leah out alive.

There is a slight lull midway through, but with such a limited pool of characters and locations, it's hard to begrudge it. The film never fully loses momentum - it just has a little sit-down to catch its breath.

Barb herself is a terrific creation, save for one rather glaring issue - I'll come to that in a moment. Otherwise she's the perfect reluctant hero: brave, sharp, vulnerable, and - refreshingly - a woman allowed to age like an actual human being. Emma Thompson brings all the warmth, weariness and grit you'd hope for, without a hint of Hollywood polishing.

Now, the accent. Or should I say 'accents'. All 27 of them. One minute she's Rose Nylund, the next she's Pam Ayres on market day. With so many perfectly good regional options available, it's baffling they didn't pick just one and stick to it. Thankfully, her backstory more than makes up for the wobble - those flashbacks actually add depth rather than smothering the film in syrup.

As for the setting... something always feels a touch off, and with good reason. No matter how proudly they hang the Stars and Stripes, this is no Minnesota. This is Finland with a thin coat of American paint, and you can spot the brushstrokes from space.

Still, taken as a whole, it works. It feels real. The action scenes have weight. The performances ring true. And it's genuinely refreshing to see a thriller led by someone who isn't secretly a retired superspy.

Not perfect, but very good - and absolutely worth your time.

7/10.