Frozen [DVD]

The film's premise is simple; three college kids go skiing for the weekend and by a slight stretch of the imagination end up stranded in a ski lift chair as night sets in. With the resort closed for the rest of the week our trio must decide what they want to do: Stay on the lift in the sub-zero temperatures, climb across the razor sharp cable above them, or jump to the ground far below them.

Needless to say the results of any of these actions aren't going to be pretty. But 'Frozen' almost demands you think to yourself 'What would I do?' even as it swiftly shows you what would happen to you if you did. And this is one of the greatest strengths of the film, to put you into these three people's (ski) shoes and force you to experience the terror first hand. However although at times the visuals are incredibly cringe inducing, its the use of cut away angles that is most effective, leaving your imagination to fill in the grisly details. But this is definitely not one for people with a fragile constitution, and you may find your fellow movie goers hiding behind their popcorn come certain scenes.

Clearly 'Frozen' is intended to be a thrill and tense ride and it succeeds marvellously at this. The main drawback to the film is the slow beginning and a slight lull in the middle that may have you wishing for some more gore (or not). But on the plus side it isn't long before the pace picks up again and we are once again swinging along with our protagonists. And special mention must go to the performances, particularly to Emma Bell who makes an only slightly annoying female lead (which for films like this is quite a marvel), and particularly to Shawn Ashmore (Iceman from 'X-Men' - no pun intended), who is very convincing in his part as the third wheel in the trio.

For anyone who has 'enjoyed', if that's the right word, films like 'Saw', 'Open Water', or 'P2', you will definitely get something from 'Frozen'. If fleshy wounds and grisly visuals aren't your thing then you may want to give this a miss. Or you could hide behind the person in front of you. But this is definitely a worthy little movie that deserves to do well, even though it isn't the best advert for a holiday to the Alps

A movie that seems to split the reviewers down the middle, this is a love it or hate it excercise in filmaking.

Simple plot - three young Americans stuck on a ski lift high in the air, in freezing conditions, after the absent minded resort staff shut it down, and the slopes, not realising they still have members of the public on the said ski lift and at the resort.

So stuck high in the air with little chance of getting down,knowing they could be there for a very cold, long time, they must battle the elements and of course each other as they bicker about there hopeless situation.

Whilst this is low budget, it is actually very well made, and the three leads go through the motions, of stress, fear and desperation quite well, with out ever feeling annoying or over the top, although granted at the start of the movie they are a little cocky, but that may well be for the better as when the drama kicks in they become more human in the way they potray how scared they are.

This is a survival drama, as action is little on the ground, despite the introduction of some hungry wolves looking for there human supper.

At a short run time, with a couple of tense stunts, as the three attempt to get down, and a couple of very gory and bone crunching scenes, this is not a masterpiece, but a reasonable survival thriller, that takes an unusual scenario and plays it tense and straight, rather than being obsurd or sensational (well maybe a bit over the top with those pesky wolves).

In three words - Worth a watch.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Frozen is written and directed by Adam Green. It stars Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore and Kevin Zegers. Music is by Andy Garfield and cinematography by Will Barratt.

Three friends on a skiing trip are left stranded high in the air when their chairlift suddenly stops and it becomes apparent that everyone else has gone home; for the week...

Utterly simple in premise but mined for maximum suspense and horror, Frozen comes from the realist scenario movie that asks you what you would do in a similar circumstance? Green has an hour and half of film to play with, he basically spends the first thirty minutes by establishing his characters, letting us get to know and engage with them, and they are very likable sorts, then for the next hour he puts us up in the air with them on a chairlift as the temperatures drop, the night closes in and the wolves circle down below. Once the realisation kicks in that the situation is far graver than they first imagined, decisions must be made, something has to give, and we are not just talking about wanting to go to the toilet!

Yep, it's an everyday possible problem that turns into a nightmare. The characters make solid decisions, their options are few but Green doesn't insult the viewers by foraging in the ridiculous horror bin for solutions. It's a unique location for a film, and Green had his three actors actually up on a chairlift to further enhance the realistic set-up. There is not much blood and guts on offer for the gore hounds to feast upon, but a couple of scenes really do make for a cringe and breath holding session. Tension is high, very much so, this at times is edge of the seat stuff, again this is impressive given it's just three young adults up on a chairlift.

Spoilers In Next Paragraph.

Problems? Yes. There's a distinct lack of acknowledgement of pain on two occasions involving two different characters, and these instances can't be excused as saying the characters were in shock. The initial pain felt in the first instance would have been excruciating, anyone who has ever broken a bone will tell you that. Emma Bell tarnishes what is an otherwise good performance (all three leads are commendable) with a gross piece of overacting, her inability to do convincing grief hurts a key scene. While the finale is a touch anti-climatic. But Frozen mostly soars, clinically taut and tense, it's one of the better films of its type. 7.5/10