Sometimes there are films that are sent to me that I find both interesting and challenging to write a review, mainly due to limited set pieces and how easily it is to expose spoiler, yet I don’t shy away from it either. Frost definitely fits into this grouping and should be on horror fans’ viewing list for those wanting special disgusting tormenting wintery movies. The actual story concept was inspired from a series of news stories many one likely heard about, having individuals trapped in their cars from a winter storm, trying to survive harsh conditions with limited options, just think of pacing yourselves in those situations, cold, hungry, trapped no rescue in sight, and then think about the film Alive (1993) about a soccer team in a down aircraft in snow top mountainside. Taking those factors strung together and one gets a clear indication of this movie from director Brandon Slagle (The Dawn [2019]), adapted from a story by James Cullen Bressack and transformed into a screenplay by Robert Thompson (Aftermath [2012]), and earned distribution from Cleopatra Entertainment. One key aspect about this movie is that it was made during the covid pandemic, which shut down many of the entertainment productions both major and minor, even the indie circuit, however actress Devanny Pinn, wanted to continue working even when she was pregnant but wanted a role. Therefore, with a highly controlled set and thoroughly limited of individuals involved a script was developed and production took place.

Abbey (Devanny Pinn (Lilith [2018])) has not seen her father, Grant (Vernon Wells (Curse of the Forty-Niner [2002)) for five years of zero involvement, she’s hoping to rekindle that except she’s omitted one small but highly noticeable detail, she’s pregnant. After a few days at his remote mountain house, with deep personal issues at the forefront, they decide to go on a fishing trip, and they hear radio warnings concerning weather which they ignore ignore first bad omen and then her father not a lover of technology, hence leaves the cell phone at home, oh boy we all know what that means. On their way to a special fishing location an accident incurs and barreling them off the beaten path and on a precarious situation, almost dangling over a cliff, an injured Abbey trapped in the passenger seat, Grant dazed but able to free himself. It is here we, the audience, receive another kernel of knowledge and clear foreshadowing about the horrors of hypothermia (which include disillusions and confused thought processes) aiding by freezing winding freely blowing through the smashed windows. As Grant ventures off in a desperate need for help he appears to become tired and disorientated and ventures further into the woods instead of retracing the skid path of destruction to the roadway; meanwhile Abbey begins suffering and goes through times of sickening and to some stomach-turning moments, though by the third act, those previous scenes will appear as nothingness compared to what the filmmakers unleash on viewers all through her endurance of agony. This is coming, from the nature both in weather and that wolf (Shadow) on the DVD cover and then her own personal madness will have some expecting mothers to turn off the film in disgust and yet the morbidly curious shall push onward – yum…

Pinn has the biggest impact, as she’s carries 91% of the film, but equally shows her acting talents conveying the desperation in facial looks, pulling a viewer from mere voyeur to passenger of her incredible torment and suffering, losing herself in elements. One important aspect to note for the film was that Pinn was at least 6-months pregnant and some shot sequences had the vocals added in post due the limited staff allowed due to the restrictions and worries. Sadly, Wells never gets a full opportunity to explore the depths of his character though makes the most of his secondary role. While there’s minimum usage yet solid special effects, the cinematography does fine work, however it’s all character driven story.

Survival horror is an interesting subgenre within the many categories the overall genre, but few truly immerse the viewer into the accident and lose their hope, with it becoming a POV or something of found footage, this is pure narrative. Sadly, many are unaware of its existence and while word of mouth and a few posts might help gain traction, the conclusion just might of a lasting visceral image of sheer madness becoming too much for any general audiences.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14216086/

IMDb Rating: 6.2/10

Baron’s Rating: 6.0/10