Dead of Winter DVD: Review By The Cryptkeeper

NOTE: If you are looking for a review of the DVD itself, then stop reading. If you want to know if the movie is good or not, then continue to read.

This was quite the odd movie here. Not in a good way either. I mean, it was like a lame attempt at a killer twist ending, and it just failed.

It's about this couple, that did some drugs one night at a New Year's party. Then they go on the road. They get in a car wreck, and are lost in the forest, in freezing temperature. All these weird things happen. They are all unexplained, and there are just so many things that are suppose to keep you in suspense, but really do not. They keep you going "What a lame movie" and not "What an awesome movie." It's really sad. Maybe if they let you in at least a little bit on what is going on, I'd care. But they didn't, so I don't. An example of "suspense" would be- The guy is on the phone talking to the police. He claims they are lost, but he gives them the address of an apartment. It is like they tried too hard. I guess in the end, all these weird things were happening, because of those drugs they took.

The acting isn't terrible. I mean, it isn't top notch or anything, but it's ok. The guy does pretty bad, and the girl does decent. This is not the problem, it's the story, and directing.

The director is Brian McNamara. But who really cares? The guy doesn't give you enough information to care about his movie. You don't really care what happens next, you just want the movie to be over. Thankfully, it's a short movie.

The visuals are actually kinda cool. I liked the snowfall, and how it was dark, and just the atmosphere of the film. The lighting and everything reminded me of 30 Days of Night. (and if you get this exact DVD on the back you will notice a critic's comment that mentions 30 Days of Night.)

Overall, not a terrible film, but not a good one either. I recommend it if you got nothing else to rent. It's ok for one viewing... I guess.

A problem was that at the end it is a huge rip-off of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining.