Catástrofe Glacial

Let's admit it, most SyFy Channel original offerings are rubbish. However, without going into the plot, 'Snowmageddon' is slightly above their usual fare with a cast that is better than average and a story line that, for the most part, holds your attention.

No improvement on the CGI though and the town of 'Normal,' where 50% of the action takes place is more reminiscent of a cluster of buildings you would find on your average farm property, than Main Street, North America, even though the story is supposed to take place in the foothills of Alaska.

All in all though, the best of a usually bad SyFy crop.

I thought based on the title and premise I knew what 'Snowmageddon' was going to be, yet for better or worse, this isn't what I was expecting. On the one hand, there's a definite sense of oneupmanship here, like someone looked at the core idea and said "Nah, it can't be JUST a magic snow globe." In no time the movie shifts from the sphere of mere fantasy (a magic item causing mayhem) to pure sci-fi disaster bluster in terms of being an effects-laden extravaganza, with some ideas included with an apparent pathos of "sure, why not." On the other hand, this disaster flick is far more paced and measured than I'd have ever assumed of SyFy fare, almost to its detriment as there's a weird lag in some moments and between discrete events. And at the same time, writer Rudy Thauberger also tries to squeeze in tabletop gaming and Greek mythology as plot ideas? I suppose I should give credit where it's due, because even if this picture doesn't meet with success, the frivolous amalgamation of disparate flavors is still original in its own curious way. It's just that there's so much going on here, a peculiar mishmash that just kind of ranges all over - yet without achieving any major notes of vibrancy, even at its most outrageous.

As much as the film rather just throws ideas at a wall to see what sticks, it's hard as a viewer to really get a grip on anything firm to hold onto in terms of the writing. I really get a sense that much the same was true for the cast, and even director Sheldon Wilson; they do the best they can with the material they're given, but 'Snowmageddon' is such a strange hodgepodge that the most anyone can hope for is to make each individual scene count rather than try to get something out of their characters or the narrative as a whole. This is true not least given the CGI that greets us in each progressive step of the fanciful catastrophe; there's only so much the best professionals can do when greeted with the quandary of reacting to imaginary nothings that will be added in post-production. Some of those digital creations look better than others, but under the circumstances, that's only saying so much.

At least the production design and art direction look nice, and the special makeup. I do actually like the varied thoughts that went into the feature, even if they don't gel together. I don't think 'Snowmageddon' is altogether awful, and I don't think there's particular blame to be laid at anyone's feet. This isn't even a problem of being a TV movie per se - but for everything that the feature tries to roll together, it's a heterogeneous kluge that never quite blends. I appreciate the effort, and the work everyone put into it. Better luck next time, I guess.

There are movies that are so bad they're good, and movies that are just bad.

This one is in between. As quirky Christmas movies go, this is kind of fun, but it truly needs to be seen to be believed. A family discovers that the snow globe they've received as a gift is causing big troubles in their peaceful town. It takes a while for the main characters to believe in an evil snow globe (heck, I"m still having trouble believing it) but once they get on board they have to figure out a way to return the gift and stop the SNOWMAGEDDON!

And then it's time for eggnog!!

One awful disaster movie, with no explanations poor acting and clearly not worth the two hours it takes to watch it on TV. No connection is ever made to explain the connection between the snow globe and the disasters in the town, no explanation of why it was ever created or who might have brought these on the towns folk.

The viewer is clearly in danger of losing whatever intelligence they may have by watch this movie so run, don't walk away from it! Mysterious cracks show up all around the town with fire and yet there is no offer of how or why. Mysteriously trees pop out of the ground in random places that skewer folks and cars.

The most frustrating thing about this plot is the total lack of the presence of the creator of this mysterious snow globe and any reasonable explanation why it has appeared who its creator is and why all of these disasters are happening to this tiny town of Normal Alaska. It left me pulling out my hair in frustration.

As I have said many times already I have made no secret of disliking a lot of SyFy's films, but I do keep watching to see if they do come up with something that is watchable at least. They have done a few movies that are surprisingly tolerable though even they are far from perfect, but most are bad but you are amused by the awfulness or are like witnessing a train-wreck.

I was very mixed on Snowmageddon actually, of the above categories it sits between the tolerable and so bad it's good ones. I do give it plaudits for the better than average acting, granted it is not brilliant but it is award-worthy compared to the likes of Quantum Apocalypse and Titanic II, decent photography and a storyline that is mostly interesting and original in concept.

That is not to say that the story is perfect though. It is interesting and generally well paced, but it does take a while to get going and the ending is abrupt. There are also scenes and ideas that suspend disbelief and don't make much sense, but for the first time in a while I actually got some novelty value out of them. These are including the ideas that electricity is still flowing in a town that is cut off from the rest of the world, flying even with ice bombs are going off and nobody in the town carrying a knife.

Snowmageddon also has some amateurish effects-though I've seen worse-, cheesy dialogue and characters that aren't developed enough to make us care for them. I loved the title, but it didn't fit with the concept and story, it was like there had been a last minute title change or that they had thought of a new idea and forgot to think of a title that fitted.

Overall, not as bad as other SyFy efforts, but there is nothing really that stood out to make it memorable or good. 4/10 Bethany Cox