DEAD OF WINTER MOVIE REVIEW

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said “Love keeps the cold out better than a cloak”. Had he ever been to Minnesota during ice fishing season? Dead of Winter is the story of Barb’s (Emma Thompson) solo pilgrimage through northern Minnesota. It’s an annual trip she used to take with her husband but after his death, this time she sets out alone to say goodbye. If the elements weren’t bad enough, she stumbles upon a kidnapping plot of a teenage girl named Leah (Laurel Marsden). Abducted and held captive by a strung out woman (Judy Greer) and her lover/ accomplice (Marc Menchaca), with no formal combat training, no weapons, and no major experiences with dangerous criminals, Barb uses the powers of a good samaritan. Will it be enough to save the young woman and herself? Bradly, Frank, and Lewayne praise the use of the Die Hard formula only with a wild twist. No cop, no special forces, no hidden past of violence. Just a single woman doing what’s right because it’s the right thing to do. Also, there’s a nice bit of education on what type of equipment is needed on a lake fishing trip. Plus they react to another twist: Emma Thompson hasn’t been American this whole time?

OFFICIAL WEBSITE/TRAILER

DIRECTED BY: Brian Kirk

STARRING: Emma Thompson, Gaia Wise, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, Laurel Marsden, Brian F. O’Byrne, Lloyd Hutchinson

 

YOUR REVIEWERS

 



Bradly Martin (Screener Squad Boss, Eye on the Prize, Breakfast Pub)

Bradly Martin was born in the united states and grew up on a healthy diet of sports, films, and books. A rather shy lad who kept to himself, Bradly soon discovered the best way to know a person was to know what people liked. Throughout the years Bradly became a fan of many things and a fanatic of none. From Doctor Dre, to Doctor Strange and the who’s who of Whos. From Playstation to the Dreamcast and Marvel to DC. From LeBron James to James Bond and Lord of the Rings to Lord Palmerston (or Pitt the Elder if you agree with Wade Boggs) and is a huge fan of dad jokes and randomly obscure Simpsons references. Armed with a vast knowledge of comics, films, and pop culture. Bradly traveled the world making friends and sharing takes. As a young man Bradly married the love of his life young and grew older every year with each new child brought into the brood. If trends continue, Scientists predict that .2% of Canada (where Bradly and family reside) will be populated by Bradly’s children by the year 2029. You can hear him leading and listening to his favorite critics on the Screener Squad and maybe even providing some comments of his own.



Frank Calvillo (Highly Suspect Reviews, Screener Squad, What Ever Happened to Bette & Joan?)

Born and raised in South Texas, Frank currently lives in Austin and has been in love with movies ever since his father showed him some Three Stooges shorts when he was five years old. Today he loves all kinds of film, regardless of era, country, budget or genre. He believes every film has an audience and is at least one person’s favorite movie. After writing for Sight & Sound and Slackerwood, he now writes for Cinapse where his increasingly random taste in all flavors of cinema (from Rashomon to Mars Attacks!) continues to thrive. His ultimate goal is to write a script for his boyhood crush, Michelle Pfeiffer.

 



Lewayne White (Screener Squad)

Lewayne’s earliest memories are of watching movies and reading comics, which instilled in him a sense of wonder, a vivid imagination, and unrealistic expectations. It also means he spends a lot of time watching movies, writing scripts for them, and trying to get them made. He lives in the middle of middle America after landing there as a child, and has remained there mainly because he hates packing...