Day 2
Frozen

I’ve been looking forward to Adam Green’s Frozen for a long time.  Being a fan of Hatchet and his follow-up, Spiral, I can say that Adam Green is one of my favorite directors working now.  He’s proven that he is a versatile story-teller by not doing the same kind of movie twice (sans Hatchet II) even though he stays in the Horror genre.  After viewing Frozen, I can say that he is a force to be reckoned with and I’m sure I’ll be anticipating many more of Adam Green’s films.

Frozen is a fairly simple set up.  Much like Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat or Chris Kentis’ Open Water, Frozen is a story of people’s lives put to the test of survival.  These are stories of survival and how far we will go as humans to stay alive.  Basically, 3 college friends try to get one last run down the mountain by bribing the Ski Lift operator and end up stuck 70 + feet in the air, halfway up the mountain.  With the Ski Resort closing it’s doors until the following week, they’re faced with the choice of waiting and freezing to death or face death by attempting to get down from the ski lift chair.  It’s a set up that you have to roll with and I found myself wondering what I’d do in that situation.  Adam Green’s direction ratchets up the tension, the actors’ performances are gripping and the movie runs along at a brisk pace.  I really loved this flick and had no problem buying into the reality of the story and the characters.

What I liked:

• Great set-up.  Adam Green allows the story to breathe and let us get to know these characters before the main scenario takes place.  These are flawed people who make a stupid decision and are left to deal with it.
• Powerful performances by the actors.  100% believable.  They are flawed, yet likable.  I found myself genuinely moved during one of the later scenes.
• The sound design.  From the creaks and rattle of the ski lift, to the quiet and isolation of the mountain air, everything is fully realized.
• Andy Garfield’s score.  Beautiful and haunting.  One of my favorite compositions this year.
• I was tense.  It takes a lot for me to stay on the edge of my seat.  I was a nervous wreck for a good part of the running time.
• Brisk storytelling.  The movie has the perfect run time of 90 minutes.

What I didn’t like

• I have a few nitpicks that aren’t even worth discussing here.  Over all, this is almost a perfect little thriller and a game changer for Adam Green.

Rent it or buy it ($9.99 at Best Buy this week!) Frozen is worth checking out and one of my favorite Horror films of 2010.