The Thaw (2009)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Mark A. Lewis

Writers:

Mark A. Lewis (writer)
Michael Lewis (writer)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

This spring, the sacrifice begins...

Plot:

A research expedition to the Arctic discovers that a melting polar ice cap has released a deadly prehistoric parasite.

Plot Keywords:

Ice | Student | Mammoth | Expedition | Epidemic

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Dr. David Kruipen
Alexandra Staseson	...	Infected Girl
Brad Dryborough	...	Man with Needle / Fishing Reporter
Greg Rogers	...	Webcam Voice (voice)
William B. Davis	...	Ted
Gary Chalk	...	Jack (as Garry Chalk)
Peter Kelamis	...	Mike
Brenda Crichlow	...	Anchorwoman (as Brenda M. Crichlow)
Anne Marie DeLuise	...	Dr. Jane Sanders
John Callander	...	Edward
Lamech Kadloo	...	Nuti
Kyle Schmid	...	Federico Fulce
Steph Song	...	Ling Chen
Aaron Ashmore	...	Atom Galen
Evan Adams	...	Professor Anderson

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

Germany:90 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45515) | USA:R | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Anagram Pictures Inc.

Trivia:

Since the film is shot near the Esket Reserve in Western Canada, many people of the First Nation were also involved, including Chief Charlene Belleau who blessed the production.

Soundtrack:

Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen

Mildly entertaining

The premise: A prehistoric bug is discovered in melting Arctic ice by a renowned global warming alarmist (Val Kilmer). The bug reproduces by infecting people. A small group of students attempt to contain the new infestation.

The Thaw offers more suspense than it does horror, though there are some jumpy and/or gory moments. The CGI bugs are just convincing enough, and the other effects are good. While the plot revolves largely around Kilmer's character, he doesn't get very much screen time. However the other actors were engaging enough that I didn't find myself missing him all that much.

The story starts with Kilmer and his team, beginning the movie's more mysterious element. It then switches to the students for their rather straightforward horror-genre struggle against the bugs. The Kilmer part of the story is revisited in the end, to wrap up the mystery with a twist. Having the mystery lingering in the background was a nice touch, as it added some extra intrigue to carry me through the movie.

Nothing to write home about, but competent film-making and moderate entertainment throughout. Has lots of blatant public-service messages about global warming, too, if you've got the stomach for that.