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Not a bad concept, and with the presence of Jeff Fahey and John Rhys Davies I had hoped for a little better. But, sadly "100 Degrees Below Zero" leaves one standing on a snow bank that isn't quite tall enough to cover you.

The majority of the plot & dialogue circles around the two adult/late teenage children running around the City of Lights (aka Paris), trying to get to a location where their father, played by Jeff Fahey, a former/retired US Air Force Officer & pilot, can 'rescue' them in time to board a NATO flight executing "Operation Down Under". The script could have been a bit better, but the acting from the two children was downright sad, poorly executed, and on the corny side. Given the number of times the son gets hit, falls over or is knocked down to the ground (at least five by my count) one would NOT expect him to be able to get up, let alone run. Some of the accidents & "encounters" with other minor characters seem forced and trite, but in a sense could BE reasonable given the overarching plot.

As one reviewer said, I've seen far worse films executed from the 1950's, 60's & 70's. Thankfully, this film is just under an hour and a half, and is bearable if you really want to waste the time doing something else while watching this. I don't normally like to pan films, however in the hands of a different screenwriter, director, and slightly better talent, this concept could turn out to be as good as or better than Armageddon or 2012.

Hang on boys, we're going on a bumpy ride!

You think from the brief description that you're in for a standard, run-of-the-mill college students in a cave looking for their lost professor, in a cave type of story. But, this film is so much MORE than that, 'though I must admit it does start off in that direction. Then, the subtle shifts in direction and story changes turn ever so slightly as both the students, and you the viewer, figure out that all is not as it seems.

This film sucks you in. It DELIVERS. Provided that you have the patience to stick around and PAY ATTENTION. My heart is still pounding from the fast twists and turns that the last 15 to 20 minutes took, which may have actually been ONLY 5, but felt so much longer, in a GOOD sense. And, it DEFINITELY needs a sequel to finish the story, cuz you really want to know what's next. While they all DO eventually get out of the cave system, the ending leaves you wanting to know more, but leaves it up to your imagination to fill that in.

Looking at the spread of the different star ratings, clearly MORE people enjoyed this movie than the ones who decided to trash it. Frankly, I'm beginning to think that there are a bunch of reviewers who see it as their job to trash everything, which I'm not going to waste my time doing an detailed, by username analysis. Even though I could. I've got better things to do with my time.

So, why did I give this a ten? Because it entertained and it gets you thinking. The film took you on a journey that turned out to be completely different from what you thought you'd end up. Are there flaws? Possibly, but I didn't see any during my first viewing. But, then again, I wasn't deliberately looking for them. Is it Oscar material? No. But, then so many Oscar winners of the past three decades weren't really as good as the Award "System" wanted you to believe. I'm pretty jaded when it comes to films and television. I bore easily. It takes a lot to leave me feeling the way this film did. Afterall, I did my undergraduate degree in Film and Television, I know how everything works. Spent a few years in Radio, before a few more in the Navy. Watched 100's of films in 60 (+) years and read tons of Science Fiction. Time Trap is worth your time.