Bajo cero

The director (whom I didn't know before this movie) gets to generate an authentic tension from a real suspense story: the panic gripping the trio is absolutely palpable, although the strong implausibility of no one having a cellphone is not that believable. The terror due to their predicament mounts minute by minute and is made genuine by showing a harsh environment and by imposing tension on each of the characters. The cast is not famous at all but the way the story is set and the three personalities are described keeps attention and tension high and strong. I recommend it also for the wonderful location (movie shot in Utah's Rockies).

I've always loved 'trapped in a single location' type films – from the likes of PHONE BOOTH to CUBE. Frozen is the latest effort, a thriller with horrific overtones in which a trio of people find themselves trapped on a chair lift in sub-zero temperatures. There's very little in the way of build-up and exposition, and instead the film gets on with tackling the various dangers that the stranded folk face: everything from frostbite to the possibility of being eaten alive by wolves.

The movie emphasises realism throughout; there are no outlandish heroics here, no contrivances, just a very real chance of dying in an increasingly horrible way. I always judge the success of movies by how well they make you feel like you're there in the situation with the characters, and FROZEN achieves that effect very well. There's plenty of suspense en route, and if the characters aren't the most likable or interesting you'll find in a film, then they're far from the least interesting either. Instead they're presented as ordinary folk, little different from you or me, adding to the 'what would I do?' feel.

Director Adam Green – the man behind the HATCHET movies – is clearly a horror lover first and foremost, thus the emphasis here is on the horrible nature of the scenario. Although much of what occurs is kept off screen, this makes it all the more powerful and there's no denying the sickening feeling that accompanies one unforgettable event, achieved through sound effects alone. Don't be fooled - there's also a fair amount of gore and unpleasant stuff on-screen, too. All in all this is an effective and tension-filled little thriller with much to recommend it.

SO I picked up Frozen from work and brought it home to watch. I read a few reviews on here first and I was a little leery after that.. but it wasn't what I expected. Usually wolves are badly depicted in films, terribly misrepresented and maligned, but not in this film. It keeps you grounded in terrible reality the whole time.

Terrifying, brutal, bloody reality.. good acting, good story I really enjoyed this movie, and I generally don't like scary movies, I often find them cheesy and poorly acted. This film was different and I would really recommend watching it by yourself on a cold winters night.. It'll give you a nice chill.

The actors, crew, special effects people, the writers, animal trainers, all, I think, made a good-faith effort. That being said, the movie is lacking in terms of verisimilitude. I wonder how familiar all were with skiing and cold weather. I had a similar experience. Stupidly, for the last run of the the day I went off-piste (trail). I skied in powder up to my waist, fast, dodging boulders and trees. All of a sudden I did a face-plant and was buried. My left hand broke when my pole strap slapped it back. I was lucky. The highest lift was still running, and, thank God, it was visible through the trees. So I waved my pole, and despite heavy snow, I was rescued. If not, I am certain I would have been dead by morning. I put a spoiler alert as one might infer these kids survived. But all I'm saying is, the movie is not realistic re cold. One character stupidly throws her mitten off. One of the guys has a jacket with a hood and he doesn't use it. And they're trapped on a ski lift with no help expected for five days! The girl who threw the mitten got frostbite of course, but she still gets a good bit of use out of her hand. My wife says to mention that their breath isn't freezing. There's another antagonist in the film, but, as far as I'm concerned, the cold would have been enough if they'd played it right. I have just read other reviews and was astounded at the number of positive reviews. Those writers must never gone skiing, but also are not familiar w/cold. The film is SO unrealistic. Not only does the girl throw off one of her mittens, but she sleeps with her exposed hand on the safety rail--I got the latter from other reviews, but I did mention the stupidity of her throwing her mitten away for no reason. It just bothered me that she almost never put her exposed hand in her pocket! Other reviewers have found other really stupid elements. I originally rated this a five 'cause I'm nice guy. But I've gone down to three. If I weren't nice, I'd give it a one. Any avid skier would find this movie totally unrealistic. Again, I'm AMAZED at the number of good reviews. What were they thinking? If this thing can draw positive reviews, hell, I'm going to make movies!

"Frozen" is a beautifully crafted and original horror/thriller set on a ski lift. Now, you might watch the trailer like I did and thought, "that is going to be so bloody boring! It's just three people sitting on a ski lift!" But trust me, it's much more than that. Adam Green holds us there and always makes sure that we're captivated enough to keep watching. The characters were well-developed and likable, so you care about what's going to happen to them. It's also extremely thought provoking and realistic.

The acting is very good, especially as Adam Green, the director, actually tortured the actors so they come across genuinely cold. The direction is claustrophobic and uncomfortable in a good way! There are also some horrible cringe-worthy moments which are genuinely horrific. The special effects and music were also top notch, with the chilly wind effects getting right up your nostril.

Although it did run out of steam in some sections, for the most part it was an engaging and exciting film that was superbly acted and directed. Adam Green is proving himself to be a top notch director and clearly knows his stuff when it comes to making horror. I'd highly recommend watching this on a cold day, or on a hot day if you want a cool down.