Frozen- She said

There really has only been a few movies that are so intense, I feel emotionally weaker after I leave the theatre. Frozen is now on that list. Frozen does for the skiing industry as Open Water did for diving, and Blair Witch did for camping.

Frozen could have easily fit into the really cliché young-good looking-college kid thriller, but thankfully, the movie takes a more meaningful and heartfelt route. We’re introduced to Parker, Lynch, and Dan during their weekend trip and within the first five minutes of dialogue, we know the dynamics of their not-so-perfect relationships. During one last trip up the lift on their last night, they get stranded. At first, they believe it’s just a technical glitch, but then the “oh shit” moment happens: the lift lights are turned off. And the fight for survival begins...

The biggest surprise I got from the movie was I actually cared, I mean REALLY cared, about the three main characters. I felt their pain and anguish and frustration as they fight for their survival. The movie does an amazing job of taking you through this journey with them. There’s the initial realization of panic of being stranded. Then, the optimism of “surely someone will know and come get us…right? Right?”. Finally, the gut-wrenching panic that you’re stuck and you have two choices: survive or die. Yes, there’s some action in the movie when characters take their survival in their own hands, but what I found most intriguing is the conversations they had to pass the time. Nostalgic things: favorite breakfast cereal; pets; past relationships. Then, out of frustration, fear, hunger, fatigue, and shear numbness conversations turn to blame and anger…and finally back to sorrow and despair. These characters are taken through the wide range of human emotions on the brink of their possible deaths. I can’t even imagine how anyone could keep any kind of hope in a situation like this. It would be easy to write off the characters a hopeless cases, but I found myself really cheering for them and thinking of how they can get of the lift and make it back. I wish I could go into more detail about certain aspects and conversations in the movie that I really found amazing and heartfelt, but that would be too spoilery.

Also, the setting of the movie plays such a vital role. In the beginning, the ski lift and snow covered mountain is so inviting and fun. Tons of people are there having a great time. However, it’s amazing how quickly turns as soon as the lights go out on the mountain. It becomes the antagonist of the movie. With modern conveniences, it’s easy for us to forget how dangerous it is to be outside. Nature is relentless and it doesn’t care. It will kill you without a second thought and keep right on going. That’s a scarier villain than any slasher/serial killer/terrorist that’s out there.

Obviously, I loved this movie. I felt myself not breathing during certain parts because the action was so tense. I felt emotionally drained after leaving the movie, like the director, Adam Green, pulled me through the gutter and spit me out on the other side. I would recommend this movie to any and everyone. This is how you make a thriller. You don’t need insane amount of special effects or explosions or car chases. Something as simple and beautiful as a snow covered mountain can scare the living crap out of you. Go see it with your friends, in a pact theatre, and get freaked out. Trust me, it’s worth it.