What Breaks the Ice

Writer/Director Rebecca Eskreis set out to leverage a suspense tale off the well-worn townie-vs-tourist theme, and pretty much succeeds. In a period where all the A-listers are now working in the streaming world, competent little films like this one are no longer quite as common as they used to be, with "new lows" being set daily in the indie world. Not only do the two young leads work well together, but Hublitz (of Ozarks fame) shows an authenticity that reminds one of a young Laura Dern, with a very promising career ahead. Thumps up.

I'm writing this as I watch and I've just gotten to the big scene where "something" happens with Sammi's stepbrother (Travis) and Emily. I have no idea what. I've watched it twice and the low lighting still won't reveal the secret. No clue. Sammy is all teary eyed and she didn't even seem to like him. Emily is a zombie.

Now it's the morning after and neither girl is freaking out, scared. They don't even seem aware something happened. Radio silence.

Up until now it's been your typical Connecticut Yankee type of movie. Emily is rash and careless and knows she'll escape b/c she has money. Sammi is mostly the opposite. She knows she's stuck so she's a little more careful but can be tempted to the dark side.

There's jealousy from both girls. Emily has options. Sammi has freedom. Emily takes chances. Sammi sees repercussions. Emily gets to leave. Sammi has to stay.

There's romantic tension between Sammi and Travis, along with family tension and a divide about staying or going.

As the mystery unfolds, we see lots of flashbacks but the movie is lacking emotion. I know the director intended it to be there - the scenes suggest it should be, but it's missing. The one scene where I felt something is where Travis introduces music to a really sad scene - you can feel his intent and the results.

The scenery is beautiful - it's captured wonderfully in this small town that relies on seasonal tourism to breathe life into it. It's much like our two protagonists - one stuck, one flying by.

I really enjoyed this movie I never leave a review but why not this time. Two different young teenagers with different backgrounds and different personalities who became socially with one another in a corner store. Then started to hang out and they got close I don't want to spoil it for people that didn't see it because I can't stand when people do that. When that girl said you're my best friend I guess she meant it because these days you can't find no one loyal let alone a best friend . This movie gave trust, loyalty, grief, sexual abuse, p.t.s.d betrayal. I really enjoyed this movie I usually like suspense this is worth the watch.🎬

It's a great first hour of character building and acting. Super enjoyable drama and coming of age story. Once they introduce the lady detective the movie turns into a flaming pile of poop.

Why do writers want to force emotion and drama and use bad premises to do it. It's just crap man. The 2 lead actors are great and the first hour is also, but the last third ruin the entire movie and I can't give it a good rating. The end.

A complete nothingness of a movie with nothing to root for, nothing to remember besides very dark screen at night and bright one at day with sad, sad, sad faces. It's not even depressing, it's a compote of psychology, girls in their twenties who look like thirties and so much slow-paced edited cuts that after a while you just see the colors of the photographies, their clothes, furnitures, asphalt and trees.

Glad that it wasn't made as a mini series.

• Screenplay/story: 3
• Development: 6
• Realism: 4.5
• Entertainment: 2
• Acting: 4
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 4.5
• Visual/special effects: 4
• Music/score: 5.5
• Depth: 5
• Logic: 4
• Flow: 1.5
• Drama: 2
• Ending: 1.