Frozen

Frozen (2010)
Directed by Adam Green
Length: 93 minutes
Rated for some disturbing images and language







The state of horror movies is in shambles. Where are the modern classics? It seems the genre reached its peak back in the 1970s with The Exorcist and Jaws, etc. A genre reduced to shitty reboots (Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th), the latest PG-13 crapfest, or outlandish movies aiming for the gross-out factor (Saw, The Human Centipede, Rubber). Thankfully, Frozen is a fresh idea that is well executed. Though not a horror film in the traditional sense, the type of scary found here is the most frightening of all, because it could really happen.

Emma Bell (The Walking Dead, Final Destination 5), Shawn Ashmore (Mother's Day, The Mariachi Gringo), and Kevin Zegers (Gossip Girl, The Entitled) play a group of college students looking to escape the troubles of school by spending the day skiing at a local resort. When the group finds itself short on cash for lift tickets, they bribe the lift operator into letting them ride. As the sun begins to set, the group sets out for one last ride. That's when the fun begins - the lift is shut down with the group trapped midway up the mountain with no lights, an incoming storm, and no expected help for at least a week. Will help arrive to save the trapped group, or will they have to find a way out on their own?

Though the film does a good job of walking the line between believable and non, several scenes are still quite gruesome. Let's just say compound fractures are not a fun thing to witness. The actors do a good job of avoiding the pitfall of overacting, as so often happens in horror. While not scary, the tension created in several key scenes is amazing. You will find yourself cheering on the group as they fight impending death.

While not the instant classic we all clamor for, Frozen is the breath of fresh air Hollywood needs, not just the horror genre. Too often, both film and television rely on past ideas for the latest offerings. That is why it is so important for you, the viewer, to support the new and original. Frozen may not be your cup of tea; I'll admit I initially found the trailer to be quite ludicrous - something I had to see, if not just to make fun of it. But, instead, I found a solid film that is well executed. Don't be afraid to give it a try: unless you plan on skiing anytime soon.

Final Rating: 3 out 5 stars

Favorite Quote:
[Parker lights a cigarette and begins smoking. Joe sniffing the air, exaggerated.]
Joe Lynch: "Hmmm, smell that mountain air. You know what it smells like? ...Cancer."