Frozen Review
Frozen
Written and Directed by: Adam Green
Starring: Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers, Emma Bell, Rileah Vanderbilt, Kane Hodder
The first time I ever went skiing was on a class trip in grade 8. After getting some quick lessons and mastering the bunny hill, I felt like I was ready to tackle my first real run. About halfway down that first run, however, my ski caught an edge and I fell into a snow bank off to the side in the midst of some trees. My friends had already blown past me, and I was stuck there by myself, trying desperately to snap my boots back into my skis. As silly as it sounds, at the time, I remember panicking a little bit because I literally felt like I was alone, with no way to get help if I needed it. That’s when the thought crossed my mind: someone could really get stranded out here.
Many years later, writer/director Adam Green has tapped into that same fear with his new indie thriller Frozen. The concept is simple: what if you were on a ski lift right at the end of the night, and by some unfortunate mistake, the ski lift stopped and you were left hanging, with no one even aware that you were up there? Surely the idea is enough to give anyone the chills — and not just because of the temperature.
The movie stars Shawn Ashmore (X-Men’s Iceman) and Kevin Zegers (Wrong Turn) as two best friends who have decided to come out skiing on a Sunday. Dan has also invited his girlfriend Parker (Emma Bell) along for the trip, which causes a bit of tension because she isn’t an experienced snowboarder and Joe feels like it was supposed to be just for the guys. Later that evening, as the runs start shutting down due to bad weather, they convince the ski lift operator to let them squeeze in one last hill. Due to a mix-up, however, they soon find themselves stranded on the ski lift halfway up the hill, with the power off and the staff heading home for the night, unaware of their mistake.
I have to admit, I have a bit of a weakness for low budget thrillers that choose a simple, every day scenario and work around the confines of that concept. When they are well-executed, these movies set themselves apart from the pack, and if the situations are relatable enough, they tap into a collective fear that makes them that much more real. For obvious reasons, Frozen has earned comparisons to both Jaws and Open Water, and the truth is, it actually invites these comparisons by referencing them in dialogue. While it certainly can’t ever hope to have the same impact as Jaws, it is still a pretty gripping thriller, and one that will make you think twice the next time you board a chair lift.
A movie like this will usually live or die by its performances, and for the most part, I was impressed with the cast. Emma Bell, in particular, really sells the terror of their predicament, and her emotional response feels genuine without being overdone. Some of the writing is a little bit forced at times, and some of the internal conflict between the three of them is hard to swallow, but overall, it works. There are just enough character moments to keep things interesting.
Mostly though, it’s all about the tension, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve seen a movie this tense since The Descent. Frozen will have your stomach tied in knots, and it gets even more unsettling thanks to some rather gruesome moments (it is certainly not for the squeamish). Adam Green previously directed a movie called Hatchet, a gory tribute to old school slasher films, which I have not yet seen. This feels more restrained than I expected from someone with such a background, although Jason Voorhees himself, Kane Hodder, does have a brief cameo (not as Jason, of course).
My only real complaint is that there is an added element of danger in the movie that seemed a bit questionable to me, and although I can’t immediately disprove it, it did take away from some of the realism. The execution is solid, but perhaps I was just hoping for something a little more unexpected. Frozen manages to make for a compelling 90 minute watch, but it’s also very straightforward and doesn’t reach far beyond the initial possibilities that any of us might dream up in this particular situation. The extra element I’m talking about feels like a bit of a cheat.
In any case, I would still wholeheartedly recommend the film. Green has crafted a taut little thriller that makes good on its premise, and I really think it could stand to get a wider release. If you can’t find it in a theatre near you, this one will be worth waiting for on DVD, although it is even more effective seeing it now in the midst of these chilly winter months. — Sean
SCORE: 
Recommended If You Like: Open Water, Alive, The Ruins, Ski School
Comments (20)
I’m really excited to see this now, I think this might be one of my favourite reviews by you Sean! Cant wait to hear what Jay has to say, if he’s seen it?
Posted by AdamH on February 6th, 2010I was little on the fence with this after watching the trailer. But after reading this review, it looks like I’ll enjoy the movie!
Posted by napalm on February 6th, 2010I like this.
Posted by swarez on February 6th, 2010“Recommended If You Like: Open Water, Alive, The Ruins, Ski School “
Haha ski school? Really?
Posted by Matt on February 6th, 2010Still, it’s no “Extreme Ops”, but really, what is?
Posted by PlanBFromOuterSpace on February 6th, 2010Ski School is in my list of top ten films of all time. Now I have to go see Frozen.
“To be the best, you must lose your mind.”
Posted by Wintle on February 6th, 2010Have you guys seen this yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Ry3A08h1s
Posted by Glendon on February 6th, 2010No I had not, but that is pretty crazy! Maybe we should start up a podcast like Dr. Drew giving medical advice every week.
Posted by Sean on February 6th, 2010New slogan. “Film Junk. We save lifes.”
Posted by swarez on February 7th, 2010I have a cure for frost-bite.
Posted by Reed Farrington on February 7th, 2010I am really interested in watching this movie. But I am residing in San Francisco and I could locate any theaters showing this good movie. Please let me know when this movie will start showing in SF. Thanks
Posted by Cyril A. Luis on February 7th, 2010Sean, like Cyril above, I’m too lazy to find out when Frozen is showing in my area. Please email me personally when it opens in Orlando, Florida. Because, you know, that’s why FilmJunk exists, right?
Also, please brush my teeth and wipe my ass.
Frozen sounds entertaining, at the least.
Posted by James on February 8th, 2010Can anyone tell me when its out on DVD? I live in Germany and really want to see this film but it’s nowhere in the cinemas here!
Posted by San on March 8th, 2010wow, just saw this movie and i think it was pretty good. kind of gross at times, a little predictable at others, but worth watching.
San, its out now in dvd in north america, so should be out soon in Germany too, if it hasn’t been released already.
shawn ashmore is so sexy until his character Lynch…yea, i wont ruin it for you.
Posted by tyrasknab on September 18th, 2010I went into this movie not knowing wgat it was about, my husband and I had seen everything at blockbuster so we rented this, with that being said, kevin is one of my fave actors he was amazing in air bud but this film was so depressing to me I’m still in a funk. First off why would anyone jump abd land on there feet hello? Impact plus height stupid. Then second who would not bring a phone with them… And the part that reallt pisses me off is if I had to pee that bad I would have leaned over the back of the lift and woke the guy up to help me cause that’s an emergancy situation I’m sure he wouldent have been a prick and said no! cause at thet degree of cold frots bite would set in right away I thought the movie was horible and really needed something more reolistic… I don’t think the actors were the problem it’s the writers…
Posted by jesse on December 27th, 2010I’m surprised how many good reviews this movie is getting. I honestly did not like this film one bit. I like the idea how they get stranded but don’t think this would ever happen in real life.
Spoiler Alert:
1. At least one of those 3 college kids would had a cellphone.
2. I’m sure there are other precautionary measures in place before shutting down the sky lift simply because an operator at the bottom thinks there is no one else riding.
3. I’m sure the sky resort would not even be operational while a murderous wolf pack of 10+ is roaming the area.
4. Any even semi-experienced skier knows that if you jump down with your skies or snowboard on, it will dramatically reduce the force of impact you experience. How do you think those long distance sky jumps are possible where athletes clear 100’s of feet in distance.
5. At the very end it is extremely unlikely that the pack of wolfs would let that girl simply slide by them. The film made it seem that the 2 guys who are average build, not overweight, would be plenty of food for a pack of wolfs that they would leave that girl alone.
In conclusion I thought this was one of the worst movies I have seen in a while and would NOT recoomend for anyone too see it under any circumstances, especially if it involves paying money to see it.
Very bad movie and a waist of time.
Posted by Alex on January 10th, 2011why would I listen to someone who can’t even spell “waste”
Posted by Jay on January 22nd, 2011why would it matter how he spelled waste and plus hes right one of the worst movies ive ever seen people who make movies make people look like they are complete idoits why would you jump from a ski lift and try to land on your feet and yea there just so happend to be a wolf pack up on the mountain too which i guarantee those wolves wouldnt have even messed with him anyways unless that was their territory but considering its a ski hill i doubt it was and if it was me getting attacked by those wolves i wouldnt have just sat there i wouldve started beating the shit out of them i mean yeah id be scared shitless to see a pack of wolves coming at me but that doesnt mean i would just cover my face and wait for them to eat me if i was gonna die so would a few of those wolves oh and also when the second guy gets down why wouldnt he just strap into the snow board instead of sitting on it again people are usually not that stupid i know he had ski boots on but that doesnt mean they wouldnt fit in the bindings or he couldve tried to find his skis considering the wolves backed off for a minute and why the fuck were the wolves just waiting for them to get down that wouldnt happen either VERY STUPID MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by jake on January 23rd, 2011To all you people leaving these negative comments, saying that the movie is unrealistic… Come on! Pubching a few wolves isn’t going to kill any of them, and obviously in that sort of situation, you don’t have much time to think “well maybe is should strap in to the snowboard.” Also the movie made it clear that they left their cellphones in their lockers so why are you saying “at least one of them should have a cell phone” I loved this movie as it taps into allot of human emotioins and fears and stays with you even a few days after. I highly recomend that you watch this movie.
Posted by Brendan on February 24th, 2011This has got to be the most retarted and cheap movie I have ever seen!
Posted by Ruperto on March 18th, 2011Leave a Reply