Saturday, 18 September 2021 19:12

Frozen/ US 2010






FROZEN

US, 2010, 93 minutes. Colour.
Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers.
Directed by Adam Green.

In some disaster films, those at sea, people are stranded in the water, in danger of nature, sharks, drowning. This is a ski resort equivalent, a low-key film, focusing on three young people who are stranded on a chairlift when despite their preparations, it stops.

The film introduces the three characters, Dan and Parker, who are boyfriend and girlfriend, with Joe, Dan’s best friend since they were children. They bribe the chairlift manager to let them go up during the day and a final request at night. However, he goes off duty, his successor misunderstands the instructions and sees three people skiing down, thinking that they are the people who went up. He stops the chairlift, they are stranded overnight.

The film has a great deal of talking as the three interact with each other, their life stories are brought to some life, the difficulties grow. Dan decides to jump, breaks his leg, is the victim of wolves. Joe eventually climbs along the cable to the next chair, is able to climb down, wants to ski down to get help, but is also attacked by the wolves. Finally, Parker also jumps and is able to ski to the road, defying the wolves.

The basic plotline doesn’t offer any heroics of the disaster movie kind. In fact, it is rather grim, even pessimistic. The young people do what they can, make decisions which lead to some tragedies.

Adam Green has written and directed a number of nightmare-style films with touches of horror. This film is far more serious and straightforward. Emma Bell went on to be a lead in Final Destination 5. Shawn Ashmore has been appearing in many films and television programs since he was quite young. Kevin Zegers has made a career in a great variety of films.

1. The impact of the film? The credibility of the plot? The possibilities of the accident? The plausibility of the responses?

2. The snow settings, the ski lift, the slopes? Realistic atmosphere? People, tourists, skiers, the lift manager?

3. The title, the plain indication of the plot and the themes?

4. The introduction to the three characters, their age, experience? Friendships? Joe and his meeting a former girlfriend, his hopes to reunite with her? Dan and Parker as a couple? The persuading of Jason to let them go up the ski lift? Their day on the slopes? Their wanting one last ride up, persuading Jason?

5. The situation with Jason, going off duty, his successor, saying that there were three people to come down, the skiers, the successor making the mistake and turning of the lift?

6. The initial reactions of the three? Talking, waiting, hoping? The snow drifts? The possibility of a storm? The time passing, their getting colder? Dan and his decision to jump down, his breaking his leg, the bone? The advance of the wolf, defying it, his fears? The wolf coming back with the pack? Savaging him? The effect on Parker and Joe?

7. The night passing, Parker’s hand freezing onto the bar? Frostbite? The sun coming up? The arguments between the two? Mutual blame? The backgrounds of their lives, friendship with Dan?

8. Joe, his attempt to climb to the cable, his doing it in daylight, succeeding, getting into the next carriage, Parker throwing the skis for him? His being able to climb down? Reassuring Parker?

9. Parker, being left alone, time passing? Her fears? Joe not returning? Her decision to jump down? On the ski, the pursuit of the wolf? Her passing Joe and seeing that he has been savaged by the wolves? Finally arriving at the road, the car stopping?

10. The end of the film at this moment? Leaving the audience to reflect on what could happen? How they might have behaved in similar circumstances? The regrets for the deaths? The prospects for Parker?

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