Escapade fatale

Wow, this movie really caught me by surprise. I remember watching the preview and thinking "whatever". I couldn't really tell what it was about but I saw that Joel Kinnaman was in it so I had to at least see. My first experience with this guy was on "The Killing." Didn't like him or his character at first, but by the end of the series I got it. I remember rooting for him to make it big and then saw him on Robocop and some other big movies. I hope Hollywood doesn't ruin him. I'd like to see more of his "flawed hero" in the future. Could just be me, but I think I could see him doubting himself in certain scenes at the beginning of the movie that wasn't just the character. He needs more roles like these I think to get his chops around. Really, I think he has the potential to turn out some interesting characters given the chance. Now about the movie. Like I said, the beginning of the movie, I thought, came across a bit stiff. Maybe the dialogue, I don't know, people in real life act and say things all the time that I don't really understand why they'd say or do it that way. All the same it was okay. Then about half way through the movie I had to stand up and say, "Holy S--t!" From then on it was a nightmare for everyone involved. This movie took turns I did not see coming and I thought it was pretty realistic. Once it all fell apart I could see the insanity of the situation and it was scary. I've always been interested in how a parent can come to the conclusion to kill their own children. That doesn't happen here but the colors are there. I don't know if this movie is for everyone, probably not. I sure liked it though. I liked it a lot.

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!!!

No idea why people are harshing on this movie. Yes, the plot is simple, but that's because it's not a horror flick or action flick - - it's a psychological family drama thriller. As in, tense.

There's beautiful scenery, minimal music, and other than a few scenes (not going to spoil that), most of what happens is fairly straightforward. Joel Kinnaman, looking a bit haggard, (the delicious co-star of The Killing) delivers top-notch acting, as do both of the boys. Their relationship and interaction is believable, and thankfully, there isn't any annoying precociousness or preciousness in the kid's characters.

I'm not sure what people were expecting from the movie, but after reading some of the reviews/comments, I watched it anyway, and I wasn't disappointed. If you're looking for something with a lot of violence or gore, or some feel-good story with a dramatic ending, this isn't the film for you. If you are looking for a somewhat bleak story line with great acting, then check it out.

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.

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.