Release Date: 31 August 2006

Synopsis :

Annika and Saga, a medical doctor and her 17 year old daughter have just moved to Lapland as Annika is going to work in the hospital there. The little town with its seemingly endless polar nights appears to be just as boring as Saga thought it would be. At her new school however, Saga quickly gets new friends thru Vega who acts as if she has known Saga for years. But soon Annika finds out that there’s something not right at the hospital: the little community is struck by mysterious deaths and accidents. There is something hunting in the night...and when the world around you disappears into a maelstrom of snow, ice and blood, the last thing you want to hear is that there’s more than a month till dawn…Annika and Saga, a medical doctor and her 17 year old daughter have just moved to Lapland as Annika is going to work in the hospital there. The little town with its seemingly endless polar nights appears to be just as boring as Saga thought it would be. At her new school however, Saga quickly gets new friends thru Vega who acts as if she has known Saga for years. But soon Annika finds out that there’s something not right at the hospital: the little community is struck by mysterious deaths and accidents. There is something hunting in the night...and when the world around you disappears into a maelstrom of snow, ice and blood, the last thing you want to hear is that there’s more than a month till dawn…

Movie Review:

With a horror theme, the title “Frostbite” sounds like a movie that depicts man-devouring creatures lurking in the snow, waiting for just the right opportunity to pound on humans. However, what appears to be a horror film turns out to be much more than that. Just to avoid spoiling the fun, let’s just say that the term “bite” has more bite than “frost”.

The premise is conventional, with a mother-daughter pair moving into a new town that turns mysterious after a few nights’ stay. The youths there are weird, quirky and downright rebellious. An acclaimed genetic scientist by the name of Gerhard Geckert seems to hide something behind his avuncular demeanour. And oh yes, people die in this town.

“Frostbite” passes easily as a horror flick, but with a plus. With most actions taking place in a hospital, it adds intensity and suspense to a film that is already filled with tension. The director Anders Banke may have failed to eject the audience from their seats but he does succeed in making him cower in fear with the hospital’s settings: dim lights, secluded corridors and few personnel doing the patrols.

The main highlight of the film has to be Sebastian, who took the limelight from the female lead by portraying a mischievous surgeon apprentice who pop a red pill and turn nasty. Vacillating between a “Mr Nice Guy” image and a “Delinquent-turned-wild” persona, actor Jonas Karlstrom should be lauded for his acting finesse in this film.

“Frostbite” does illustrate that there might be beings who are more competitive than humans. The film seems to offer a perspective against genetic engineering by depicting the negative consequences that can result from experiments turn awry. It asks the audience to question the dangers of genetic engineering, be it in human cloning or in plants and crops. The ending does not prove to be satisfactory though, other than the fact that organism are hard to destroy.

To conclude, “Frostbite” is a film for horror movie buff looking for a thrill ride, couples who like an occasional jump and fans of “Night Watch”. Do not be too hopeful for a great storyline or fantastic CGI, because the plot’s linear and there are few special effects in-between.

Nevertheless, the film on the whole do come across as exciting, funny at times and well, enjoyable. So, pack a box of popcorns and enjoy the film.

Be cool, growl and bare your teeth.

Movie Rating:

(“Frostbite” is a thrill ride with bites, and tons of blood. Get chilled!)

Review by Patrick Tay