Frozen

Jon Starr

Jon Starr

Veteran
I just saw this film, and I really loved it. It's about three people stuck in a chair lift after the park closes. While this sounds like a thin plot, and not very good, it was actually very well done IMO.


Now there seems to be mixed reviews, with only a 60% on rotten tomatoes. Either people comment on how amazingly suspensful it is, or they comment on how idiotic it is. Now in all honesty, something that was said in the behind the scenes struck me. It's easy to be brave as the audience, but when you're there, in that situation, it's a whole other story.

I think they really nailed this film. Because it was 'real'. It felt real in a lot of ways. They didn't always do the smartest thing, because they were scared. Or they did the brave thing because they were cowards. I read reviews and people complain "why didn't they do this, or that!?" but in all honesty, I doubt you would think clearly when put in a situation like this. People do 'stupid' things every day. Why would it be any different in a movie?

I think that's why I enjoyed this film. Because it was both the environment and human nature that they were combating. Maybe audiences can't accept that second part because they're sitting comfy at home watching this thing. For me though, it felt right. Also great performances all around.

ALSO, if you want a really good behind the scenes, this one seems to have been made for filmmakers. Lots of behind the scenes and lots of in depth stuff. This film was clearly made by people that are passionate about the craft.
 
I saw this in Austin last December. I loved it, but it got a mixed reception there too.
Like you say, some people don't like feeling smarter than the main characters.

But it's a good film. Too bad also what happened to Hatchet 2 recently.
 
It makes me think of a friend of mine. There was a shooting at our bus stop. Some guy got shot in the leg and the two guys with guns ran away.

When my friend heard this he said "I can't believe nobody ran after the guys!" I responded, "They had guns, if you were in that situation you wouldn't have followed them. It's just stupidity." But he still stuck his ground, convinced that he would have ran after them. But I'm 99% sure that if he were ACTUALLY in that situation, he wouldn't have followed them. But of course he can't see this, he doesn't have the ability to put himself into that situation, where the dominant emotion is fear.

So that's why it's tough to do movies like this, where fear drives the main characters, which is what really messes up your brain. People find it difficult to put themselves in these situations.

But I feel I really got into it. It was very gripping. Amazing what they could do with such a simple concept.
 
Jon Starr said:
So that's why it's tough to do movies like this, where fear drives the main characters, which is what really messes up your brain. People find it difficult to put themselves in these situations.
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That's why true horror is way harder to write than anything else, including comedy.
People want to laugh, it's a pleasant emotion. They don't want to feel fear.
You have to write a good drama with good characters to pull the viewers in, and then make them feel the main character's fear, but you can have a good comedy without having a good drama.
 
I enjoyed it.

I thought it was shot on a greenscreen though, but the it said in the end credits it was shot on location.
 
Yeah I saw the behind the scenes (really in depth for filmmakers), and it was shot entirely on location. They chose one spot on one hill. Occasionally they shot it hanging in the parking lot )I think for some dialogue scenes), but mostly at the same spot.

But if you can, I really suggest picking up the DVD and watching the behind the scenes.
 
Jon Starr said:
Yeah I saw the behind the scenes (really in depth for filmmakers), and it was shot entirely on location. They chose one spot on one hill. Occasionally they shot it hanging in the parking lot )I think for some dialogue scenes), but mostly at the same spot.

But if you can, I really suggest picking up the DVD and watching the behind the scenes.
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I'm gonna pick up the Bluray of it, that'll have the same features on it i hope. :)
 
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