Cold Pursuit
We thought this film looked familiar when we saw the previews several weeks back. We now know this film by Director Hans Petter Moland is based on the 2014 Norwegian thriller released in the US under the title In Order of Disappearance. (Who can forget launching vehicles into the sky using giant snow plows at full speed?!)
This rendition continues with lots of drama, lots of really bad guys of all makes and models, multiple ‘kingpins” and plenty of snarky dark humor that must be intended to soften the protracted scenes of extreme violence.
The cast is impressive. Liam Neeson is the headliner. Tom Bateman, William Forsythe, Raoul Trujillo, Ben Hollingsworth, Domenick Lombardozzi, Tom Jackson and Ben Cotton are enough bad guys to take over a small country or in this case a small ski town in Colorado.
There are only a few ladies: Emmy Rossum, Julia Jones, Laura Dern and Elysia Rotaru round out the girls.
The movie is rated R for extensive strong violence, drug material, language including sexual references. It is not appropriate for children. It is listed as an Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery & Suspense with a run time of 118 minutes.
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Arctic
This Danish production has all the traits you would expect from a small plane crash in the Arctic. First a survivor, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who knows what to do in such a situation. Food, shelter, rescue.
In the next day or so an unexpected helicopter appears on the horizon and suddenly crashes, leaving one survivor injured but alive. Icelandic actress Maria Thelma Smaradottir plays this survivor.
These two characters are basically the entire cast. What makes this film work is the focus on survival. It feels like you are there first hand, a chilling, death defying experience without any bells or whistles.
The film is rated PG-13 for language and some bloody images. It’s listed as a drama with a run time of 98 minutes. We do not think this film is suitable for children. See it because it is different, insightful, humbling and loaded with suspense!
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The Prodigy
This recent film release is a haunting throw back to numerous possession stories, this one occurs in a child. There is a big twist that makes the story quite unnerving. The tension builds quickly and the visuals become more and more difficult to watch. Upon reflection the story is a bit easier to comprehend.
The cast is quite small. Award winner Taylor Schilling is excellent at the mom. Peter Mooney plays the dad. Ten year old Jackson Robert Scott plays their son. Canadian Actor Colm Feore plays the Psychiatrist. Brittany Allen plays the victim. Another dozen actors play bit parts to round out the cast.
The tension that is created in this film is both subtle and yet intense. Much of the story is unique and different than similar story lines.
The film is rated R for violence, disturbing and bloody images, a sexual reference and brief graphic nudity. It is listed as a Horror film with a run time of 92 minutes. It is absolutely not appropriate for children.
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