{"id":2668,"date":"2013-07-24T09:48:35","date_gmt":"2013-07-24T09:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=2668"},"modified":"2013-07-24T09:48:35","modified_gmt":"2013-07-24T09:48:35","slug":"the-frozen-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/the-frozen-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"The Frozen Ground ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When dealing with real-life subject matter of a harrowing nature, it\u2019s important to get facts straight and be sensitive to those involved. A film such as The Frozen Ground from debut director Scott Walker is such an example, based on historic events surrounding Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen who kidnapped and murdered roughly twenty young women in the 1980s. Walker assertively cuts his filmmaking teeth here, managing to balance fact and thrills value well enough to deliver an engaging watch \u2013 albeit too safe and clich\u00e9d, script-wise.<\/p>\n

Nicolas Cage sets his oddball roles aside here to play another ‘uniform’, straight-as-a-die character, state trooper Jack Halcombe. The officer is about to retired from the force when he is reluctantly tasked with one last high-profile case of tracking down the killer of young girls, after one victim, prostitute Cindy (Vanessa Hudgens), manages to escape the maniac\u2019s twisted clutches. The authorities\u2019 suspicion falls on community-spirited family man Robert \u2018Bob\u2019 Hansen (John Cusack) who has a previous criminal history. As more girls go missing, time is running out for Halcombe who must get his man before the grizzly evidence is lost forever in the Alaskan undergrowth.<\/p>\n

We are nicely enveloped in the drama from square one as Walker\u2019s opener flies us at speed over the vast Alaskan wilderness to show the enormity of the situation \u2013 like finding a needle in a haystack. Then we\u2019re in the killer\u2019s retreat as a distraught Cindy is found and released by police, hence beginning the grim discovery. The gritty, shaky camerawork that such crime dramas now favour to induce a sense of urgency and intensity also dates the film for the 80s era, staying gloomily lit until the end and setting a sombre atmosphere to cultivate the ugly chain of events. The cinematography works well for both panoramic and claustrophobic shots to develop a tangible sense of foreboding.<\/p>\n

the-frozen-ground-pixThe problems with Walker\u2019s film arise from the script, where it lacks any real passion for the plight of those involved, demonstrating his inexperience, however well researched it may be. Cage does the best he can, portraying Halcombe as both reliable and grounded but simultaneously, rather wooden and two-dimensional. It also begs the question, are we limited in our empathy for this real-life character and his gruelling task because the script reels out the TV cop drama clich\u00e9s? In contrast, Halcombe\u2019s predictability shows Hudgens in a brave new light, totally dispensing with any Disney sheen here, showing a gutsy and rather exciting new premise as an adult actor in a controversial role.<\/p>\n

Indeed Cusack\u2019s Hansen bristles with malice and deviance that is electric, proving again that the actor suits such creepy roles far better than the unconventional action hero or the soppy, loved-up fool. The end exchange between Halcombe and Hansen is worth the wait as Cage manages to pull something memorable out of his character\u2019s bag before the credits roll. It\u2019s also some credit to Walker for his casting and direction, getting two versatile actors who last met face-to-face in thriller Con Air to bat back and forth and produce such intensity and drama at that point. Nevertheless, it does appear to highlight that Walker has concentrated all his writing efforts into that one dialogue, which is a shame and wastes potential with the earlier scenes.<\/p>\n

That said as a debut thriller of high-profile interest (in the story of Hansen), Walker has held his own and produced something very watchable and well executed \u2013 end photo montage of the real victims aside that feels like a forced \u2018add on\u2019 to underline the \u2018reality and gravity\u2019 of the story. The Frozen Ground also shows Walker\u2019s emerging skill that with the right script, he could be a director to watch in the near future in the genre.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

Follow on Twitter<\/a>
\n