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SUNDANCE 2010

Brandon's Sundance 2010 Review: Adam Green's Frozen

by Brandon Lee Tenney
January 25, 2010

In the same vein as thrillers like Open Water and another film here, Buried, Adam Green's Frozen is--for the most part--a one-location horror-thriller. Here's the jist: three annoying, unlikeable college kids (Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell) get trapped on a ski lift without the hope of rescue 'cause they were stupid enough to bribe their way onto the slopes after closing time on a Sunday when they know full well that the resort doesn't reopen until the following Friday. From there, shit happens. It usually involves the cold and its effects on unprotected skin. Sometimes it involves wolves. And one time it involves urine.

If you're really looking forward to this film, my first nugget of advice would be to not look forward to this film. My second piece of advice would be to not watch the trailer. It literally spoils everything. And what it doesn't spoil, you can infer if you have even Abby Normal's brain. So, why does Frozen fail so miserably? Allow me to get all critical on its icy ass. First, the dialog is painfully tedious. The introduction attempts to endear the audience to these characters who we know will eventually endure great hardships. The introduction fails. Instead, they're just vacant. The kind of characters that, instead of rooting for them to survive, I was rooting for them to die. The decisions these characters make are, for the most part, idiotic.

Even the violence isn't shocking or anymore visceral than what I've seen before in other horror-thrillers. And it's slow. By slow, I mean boring. If a film is set in one location for most of the story, keep me guessing. Well, that goes for every film, but seriously, when the only thing I'm thinking about is how these characters' lips aren't getting chapped when the rest of their face is peeling the fuck off, I think it's time for a re-write.

Brandon's Sundance Rating: 3 out of 10

Note: The three points are for the wolves in the film. The best acting captured on camera.

Filed under Review, Sundance 10

From around the web:

johnny Crow

HAHA I absolutely loved this review. I thought the trailer looked dumb, and as a snowboarder, I find the plot very unbelievable. Anyways the three points to the wolves' acting is by far the funniest thing I have read on here. Great job!
movie mike

Wow....I wanted to go to sundance to see Buried, The runaways, and this. Guess i'm glad i didn't go
Xerxex

Movie Mike, "Buried" got a 9.5 out of 10. I'm not surprised this got a bad review.
Aaron

This guy sounds like a critical hater, what did he expect an oscar contender. Maybe he should re assess his expectations of a horror thriller.
movie mike

@3, I know Buried got good reviews, i ment i'm happy i didn't go because of the other 2
Crump's Brother

Hope it's a 80 minute movie, dont know how long they can strench this movie. Seems like it would get old after about 45 minutes. I wanna see The Runaways regardless of what anybody says. (fan of the band for 20 years)
Xerxex

Ah, My bad Movie Mike!
Evan

Do they ever figure out to just tie some of their clothes together?
David

Bad concept=bad movie. Some people get stuck on a ski lift boring. It gets cold. They die.
FancyMonocle

Well written review. Made me laugh.
Jaf

"allow me to get critical on its icy ass" Please do...oh, done and done
Angry Chief

OSCAR GOLD.
sumonesumtime

"Terrifying! Will do for skiing what JAWS did for swimming." Best quote ever.
Ash

I actually just saw this movie and it was great. You sound like a bitter reviewer who has been jaded and has seen way too many movies so now you think you know it all. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing the entire time. The characters draw you in. I suggest you see it, even if you wait to rent. See it.
Fuelbot

It's so easy to say their choices are stupid, but seriously what would you have done to get down from a chair lift in the dead of winter when the ski resort is closing for the week?
Cineprog

Brandon Lee Turney I like the Review of the film Frozen, I watched the Trailer a few weeks ago I thought it was crap then and would not spend my money on see the film.
Cory

Put me on a ski lift and force me to find a way off and I gaurantee I'll do it. Same day. Everyone with me survives.
guh

Haha Young Frankenstein reference lmao
M

Lol, Hilarious Review Loved these parts [quote] The kind of characters that, instead of rooting for them to survive, I was rooting for them to die.[/quote] and also "when the only thing I'm thinking about is how these characters' lips aren't getting chapped when the rest of their face is peeling the fuck off" LMAO Hilarious, not a fan of any of those actors so wouldn't be seeing it anyways.
zstolz

I liked this movie. It was frighteningly realistic. The characters are ones you will care for. The thought comes directly to you and haunts you. What would I do if I were stranded up there...all alone... in the cold...for the entire week? I may just commit suicide. The scene where Dan jumps from the chair and onto the ground was disturbing, because he severely broke his legs. The ending was okay, and I disliked the scene where Joe died and I also disliked the misportrayal of wolves. Still, this movie was superb, in terms of constructing a film. 4 stars. Pretty darn good for a low budget film.