Rent on Apple TV and Amazon
At my day job, one of the ways I enjoy describing the product I sell is "elegance in simplicity." This notion can be applied to a myriad of concepts in any given field. Because sometimes, it doesn't take much to create something incredible and impactful. Consider one of the greatest films of all time, Steven Spielberg's E.T., and the fact that the iconic alien creature was little more than brown playdough and chicken wire. And yet, in the hands of passionate craftspeople and expert storytellers, those simple materials brought to life an endearing and memorable experience.
Today's subject, Dead of Winter, may not be as iconic or as impactful as that classic piece of science fiction. Still, it carries the same kind of simplistic elegance and charm, endearing itself to the audience with relatable characters, tangible stakes, and a simple story about love; not what you might have expected from the poster or the story synopsis, but it's true.
Taking place in a remote fishing town in Minnesota, the story follows an elderly woman named Barb (Emma Thompson) on her way to a specific lake for some ice fishing. She seems upset for some yet-to-be-discovered reason, but presses on with her trip. Upon arrival, she makes a shocking discovery. Someone has kidnapped a young girl and is holding her hostage in their cabin. With no means of calling for help, Barb must gather her courage and wits to do what she can to save the girl herself. With luck, they will both survive this year's harsh winter.
This movie is much more brilliant than you might have expected. Barb demonstrates incredible thinking and clever tactics throughout the story, despite never knowing her background. Yet the film succeeds in making you not worry about that because it knows what is more important to the narrative and to audience investment, which it delivers in spades. Sometimes, you don't need to know every single little thing about a character or story; just enough to get you interested in seeing what comes next. Not to mention, the script provides the kind of emotional resonance that makes the proceedings worthy of our time investment.
Emma Thompson, late of Dead Again and Love Actually, delivers her usual committed performance to every degree. From her in-the-moment responses to her near-perfect Minnesotan accent, Emma puts in the professional effort that draws your attention like a moth to a flame. The only difference is you don't get burned for enjoying this bright light.
The script is the real highlight of the film. Written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb (both apparently first-time screenwriters), under the surprisingly clever direction of Brian Kirk, known chiefly for television work, the script comes to life with clever moments, on-point dialogue, and nary a moment that makes you ask out loud, "why are you doing that?" The film is smart enough to trust your ability to observe and invest, rewarding you for committing to the story as much as they do. It's the exact kind of script work that is sadly lacking in much of Hollywood's inner circles.
Dead of Winter may not be a cheery piece of work, but it is a solid story with three-dimensional characters and enough texture to keep you on the edge of your seat. Not to mention Emma Thompson's performing power (the kind of person you could watch on stage reading the phone book and still be entertained) is more than enough to keep your attention throughout. If you need a decent thriller for this Halloween season, you can't go wrong here.
Check it out.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
Happy Halloween!
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