I recall, Charlie Steeds’ previous film Escape from Cannibal Farm [2017] and while that was a passionate tribute to Texas Chainsaw Massacre [1974]; I looked forward to seeing this flick as he did direct and release two others form from 2018, those were The Barge People and The House of Violent Desire. Steeds works on multiple projects at once in fact currently has three post-production films he wrapping for release, and another recently announce; this latest venture strives to present the big budget look but did it on the bare minimum budget, present western hint shows the desire of a filmmaker in the independent market doing his damnedest in creating his version of Misery [1990] thanks to distribution from High Octane Pictures.

Peter Cosgrove

One is greeted with a family being slaughtered before entering into the realm of the main story with a snow covered landscape involving a typical father and son hunting party sadly Billy Cavanagh (David Lenik (An English Haunting [2020])) becomes separated from his father Russell (Peter Cosgrove (The House of Violent Desire [2018])) and a series of turns has him hopelessly lost, if that was his only problem alas it isn’t he sustained an almost deadly gun blast. He fortunately stumbles across an old cabin owned by a crafty older woman Old Agnes (Rowena Bentley), it isn’t long to discover a few things Agnes sounds bit crazy, as she reveals a mysterious dark secret and truth behind her words is stranger than he could ever thought. It involves skinless creatures with a passionate bloodlust and have been trying gain access to the cabin, thereby heightens anxiety about the entire situation, especially when he looks at his wounded leg and the blood trail he left behind for these strange beasts to follow more easily. Agnes continues to aid him in recovery but Billy senses there are elements of her story that aren’t truthful the more she talks the tale unravels a bit more reveals secretive knowledge include details about The Red Man (Daniel McKee). In the third act Billy realizes he’s just one of many prisoners the same of others clearly are the intentions the creatures and relations to Agnes, but ultimately the truth.

David Lenik

Rowena Bentley

First the downside, this movie does contain more dialogue than action, and that becomes problematic, while both Bentley and Lenik have solid exchanges, it becomes the overall focus with ‘Billy’ at times unintentional overacting, however it saved by Rowena, having the best lines and most dark humor. The final 20-minutes generates the best of movie, with tension rising, well-choreographed fighting scenes but there is a lack of actual creatures, namely there’s just one, hence a bit of dissatisfaction for a viewer. Steeds uses some of his longtime entourage taking a page from the playbook of Hitchcock, Carpenter, and Scorsese  to help with the independent project first and namely his cinematographer Michael Lloyd to create some spooky aspects and his composer Sam Benjafield for additional music while other compositions gave a sound similar to many of the 1980s synth score. One can be sure to listen carefully for The Thing [1982] reference it is nicely place in the movie.

When I first saw the early artwork for Winterskin, along with some the details concerning the plot I thought it had a great deal of promise however, after viewing, it doesn’t earn the same endorsement, with long-winded dialogue, some painful listening of the delivery. Sadly, often in the indie market the cast isn’t afforded much rehearsal time, perhaps a few minutes that day to find their voices with the characters and then to work that together with another cast member can struggle immensely to make some scary. Overall, the movie has diminished entertainment values, after repeated viewings, this sadly is a one and done.

TAGLINE: There’s something in the snow…

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7715192/

IMDb Rating: 3.6/10

Baron’s Rating: 3.5/10