Au bord de l'hiver

I picked this one to watch because I like a lot of snow and snowbound adventures/misadventures; while not being wildly original and despite that gorgeous Lefevre being shown too little, it does feature Kinnaman's acting chops in quite a genuine portrayal. Having seen him in other stuff here and there, I was impressed. The story could be run on Lifetime's night lineup, but it's not reducible to that – the series of worsening events snowball inexorably without steering too hard toward this or that direction, holding on to a steady thread of realism. It's something to check out for a late chill-out, especially if curious about Kinnaman's role and work.

This film tells the story of two sons who go on a winter fishing holiday with their biological father that they hardly know. As their holiday progresses, the two sons are in increasing danger from the elements and from the people they are with.

Despite having an eventful story, I struggle to find the story engaging. It is nice to see a very young Tom Holland, but there is little else to captivate me. Events that normally induce thrill and fear do not induce such emotions in this film. Maybe the story telling needs a little more working on.

The only way this movie could have worked is if the casting was spot on, and the actors rose to the occasion. Never fear, as that's what Edge of Winter delivers. It's the sort of story where you might expect a few plot holes, but again, because the story and its arc are so carefully managed, with a believable script and good editing, such never comes to pass. Careful attention is paid to relationships and natural reactions to circumstance. This is especially so of the two boys, and of course, the father as he loses the plot. Because of this attention to detail the full gravity of the unfolding tragedy really hits you hard. The cameramen also, in the snowy depths of an arctic freeze, know exactly what they are doing. It's not the most fast paced or graphic movie I've ever seen, but the performances and the cinematography make Edge of Winter an easy watch of an uncomfortable topic.

Usually I go by the review from IMDb ...

This one I totally disagree with... It holds you on the Edge/ as the title reads. It is about an abusive situation and very realistically done. Most of know someone like this guy or have known ... He continues to make stupid decisions and the kids are trying to respect him as their parent until their sense of survival kicks in. This is a don't miss movie!!!

This edgy thriller feels small in scale but it still packs a punch. Those who have grown up with a parent prone to losing their temper may find it a little triggering. To be a snowy outdoor survival type of movie, there isn't much physical ground covered. It jumps around a bit from one location to the next making the story feel a little choppy. What you can mostly expect to see here is a deadbeat dad at the end of his rope on the way to reaching his breaking point. This movie makes us feel uncomfortable right along with these two kids as they both respect and fear this unstable man they are stranded in the woods with. While the suspense was enough to keep my attention, I can't say the movie captivated me.