(https://i.imgur.com/uZbJSAf.png)
Studio: Decal Partners
Release Date: 1/6/2026
Rating: R
Film Grade: D
The Story: A small criminal group pulls off a risky heist, stealing millions of dollars only to lose it as the transporting plane crashes into a lake. A Montana game warden worries about her sick son as she carries out her duties. A nomadic poacher finds part of the lost treasure while traversing the frozen lake. What will happen when all three parties cross paths?
My Take: The movie starts with a good premise, with a well thought out caper and a solid plan. It starts going downhill right around the time the plane plummets from the sky. There’s little original to find here, although the movie does try to tack on some supplemental points about faith and religion, Native American cultural identity in the modern world, and ways of dealing with grief. The problem is that none of those are developed in a meaningful way and only feel like light seasoning for the plot. For example, one of the criminals has found God as a minister but given the perfect opportunity to offer sympathy and hope, he remains silent.
Another big problem is how the movie deals with the frozen lake. There’s no consistency whatsoever. Sometimes it’s dangerous to walk on, yet a snowmobile traverses it with no problem. In one spot the ice is one inch thick but ten feet away it’s four inches. (In general, you want at least four inches for walking and twelve inches for a car.) In one scene we’re told that the ice is melting a millimeter every hour, but weeks or days later nothing has substantially changed. Because this is such a central part of the story, it loses credibility early on, letting the audience know that it’s only being used as a sloppy plot device.
Beyond story issues, the movie isn’t aided by the acting. Joel Kinnaman channels Viggo Mortensen in his role as the hermit-like loner, Harlan. Paired with him is the lifeless Cara Jade Myers as the Warden. Her delivery is monotonous and lacking authority; this was not the right part for her. None of the criminals stand out, all feeling generic and stereotypical. Even veteran actors Danny Huston and Graham Greene can’t do much to elevate the material.
Visuals: The film has a crisp clean look, with lots of whites and blues, and plenty of resolution. My wife was unconvinced by what looks like extensive green screen work, but I wasn’t distracted by it, choosing to concentrate on the story.
Audio: The disc features a 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix that features lots of blowing wind, creating a chilling effect. The score is varied, often droning, with intermittent Native American wind instruments. It works well for the most part.
Special Features: None
Final Verdict: Frozen lakes offer a tricky terrain filled with natural obstacles and inherent danger. This provides a challenging setting that audiences could experience along with the characters, but the movie doesn’t treat it with any kind of consistency, rendering it moot. With that part of the story nullified, we’re left with a simple heist and recovery story with some unnecessary elements added in an attempt to make it seem deeper.
Those living in the southern half of the country may not be distracted by the faulty natural portrayal and find more to enjoy. Plus, if you’re a fan of Graham Greene, it’s a chance to see one of his final performances.
Typical Dialog: "Finn is no longer with us anymore."
https://youtu.be/vUwJdCAWGi4
My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup