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Overall Rating : 7.5/10
Directed By : Roar Uthaug
Ingrid Bolsø Berdal (Cold Prey 2)
Rolf Kristian Larsen
Tomas Alf Larsen (Cold Prey 2)
Endre Martin Midtstigen (Cold Prey 2)
Supplied By : Anchor Bay Entertainment
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : January 27, 2009
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| PLOT Five teenage snowboarders are forced to spend the night in a mysteriously abandoned ski lodge. Except somebody – or something – already lives there. It is huge, savage and unstoppable…and now it’s pissed off. But if you think this is going to be the usual ‘trapped teens stalked by a maniac’ movie, you’re dead wrong: From the first chilling kill to the final horrific twist, prepare yourself for the smart, intense and award-winning European sensation that has terrified audiences around the world and put the edge back into the body-count genre. |
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| THE REVIEW In COLD PREY, five friends Jannicke, Morten Eirik, Kikael and Ingum head out on a snowboarding vacation. In the midst of skiing down a slope, Morten ends up hurting his leg, With no help in sight, the friends trek through the snow until they come upon an abandoned cabin. Since it's empty, they all hope to relax, while in the meantime try to attend to Morten's injury. Things that decorate and remain in the house suggest that the cabin has remained dormant for nearly 30, but what these thrill seekers are unaware of is that someone evil also takes up residence here - down in the cabin's cellar. A killer emerges wielding a pick-axe and donning an abundance of snow garb, and with his weapon of choice he begins to viciously stalk and kill all whom entered his not-so humble abode. Prior to seeing this one, I had read that COLD PREY or FRITT VILT, as it's known in it's native country of Norway, was actually a big hit there as well as in other countries. Well, almost thought I was going to miss out on my opportunity to review - and to tell you the truth I almost passed an this. I am really glad I didn't however, because I do agree with everyone else that's raved about it, COLD PREY is good....very good in fact. The overall set up for COLD PREY is formulaic, I mean, how many times have we seen a group of teens go off and end up in an abandoned house or cabin? Many times right? Well on the surface, COLD PREY may seem like the some old thing when it comes to your typical Horror, but in my opinion, COLD PREY is hardly typical. Starting our story is a small back story of a young boy gone missing some time during the 70s, part of this story are the boy's grieving parents. At first this Prologue seems of little importance, but as we later find out it actually is an even bigger piece of the puzzle presented by the film than we first thought. the overall story is presented in and reveled in the most classic Slasher format, something I can easily appreciate, During the course of the film we watch as our characters find psychical evidence of there being a fire in the house, although most of the premises wouldn't suggest it - they also find news clippings, pertaining to the boy's disappearance in the 70's. All of this information that is found is kept at close guard by the filmmakers, leaving you to wonder what's going on and how the whole thing is going to end, and how all of the information plays a part in it. I especially like the fact that everything is kept quiet and that the killer is not reveled too soon.....this is a practice that seems to be lost as now, we have lame films like the PROM NIGHT remake that reveals it's killer in the first 5 minutes or so(that wasn't the film's only problem, but it was definitely it's biggest). So in other words, the story given to us here in COLD PREY is not too overly complicated, but not spoon fed, familiar, but not too familiar....it feels like a Slasher film from the days of old, and for any Slasher fan, that's a good thing. As for the film's setting, for the type of film that COLD PREY is, it could not have been better in my opinion/ You have the beautiful scenery, such as the snow and trees on the outside surrounding the cabin. And on the inside of the cabin, it's appearance is old and decrepit, featuring claustrophobia inducing narrow hallways, which are just ideal when trying to raise the film's level of suspense. I have to say that Director Roar Uthaug used the dark and gloomy location to it's full potential. As for the killer, all I can say is that he is not some outrageous creation, but he's not so ordinary either. While watching the film, I tried hard to come up with how I would accurately describe the killer.s appearance, and I couldn't All I can say that the killer's surroundings are rather cold, so he's wrapped up to the hilt in warm material, almost looking mummified. Now that might sound kind of silly, and it might even give you mental visions of Ralphie's little brother from A CHRISTMAS STORY, but make no mistake about it, he is very menacing, and his axe...very sharp! Accompanying the killer, are a group of relatively young Actors. Since this film is in Norwegian, I watched the film with the English dubbed track - which I admit isn't always accurate when capturing raw emotion, but from what I saw, i'd say everyone fared pretty well here. Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, whom plays Jannicke in the film, is in my opinion the standout, and she is indeed in the film's sequel as she reprises the role. COLD PREY is definitely a keeper for any Slasher or Horror fan in general. I really enjoyed it, as it's story was one that unfolded very nicely, keeping my interest the whole time and ending is a way that was plausible and exciting. |
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| GORE
METER 4/10 A few bloody impalements, an exposed bone and various axe attacks, Not very gory really, but the film is suspenseful enough to not have to rely on a lot of gore. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 5.5/10 The score is suspenseful and sometimes frantic-like. I found it to be very fitting. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM As I said, I really liked COLD PREY and do see why it has been such a big hit. Lately I have been really bored with movies, as documented in a few of my latest reviews, But watching COLD PREY is an instance in which I was not. A sequel to COLD PREY is now finished, but I have no idea when it will be released stateside. This one, filmed in 2006, was released here just this year, but I am hoping that this time around that the wait won't be as long. Finally a new film series that looks to be worth waiting for...I know I am. The film can be viewed with the original Norwegian audio track, English dubbed audio or with optional English subtitles to accompany the Norwegian track. |
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