On my flight to Barbados last month, I read an Andrew Garve novel that I'll be reviewing before long and also watched a film. I chose Dead of Winter, despite not knowing anything about it, mainly on the strength of the fact that Emma Thompson was in the lead. In the early minutes of watching the film, I wondered if I'd made a mistake, as I was taken aback by the fact she had an American accent, and had mysteriously gone out on a trip to somewhere very cold and inhospitable - northern Minnesota, as it turned out.
Before long, however, I became intrigued by the story. It's a slow-burn, for sure, but none the worse for that, and Emma's character - a widow called Barb - has a poignant backstory which is revealed, bit by bit, as matters develop. During a snowstorm, she heads for Lake Hilda and meets a rather odd man who seems to have something to hide. Soon it becomes clear that in fact he has kidnapped a young woman...
The plot gathers momentum from that point and Thompson's quality as an actor really shines through. The other characters are less well developed, a point reinforced by the names they are given - Purple Lady, Camo Jacket, and Tall Hunter, for example. But Judy Greer and Mark Menchaca do a good job in the former roles, while Laurel Mars plays Leah, the kidnap victim.
Credit must also go to Brian Kirk, the director, and cinematographer Christopher Ross; the two of them worked together on the very good TV version of The Day of the Jackal, starring Eddie Redmayne, and their expertise makes the most of the highly atmospheric setting, which looked about as chilly as the North Cape, which is the coldest place I've ever visited. A good film, which I can recommend. And I can tell you that after watching it, I was all the more pleased to step out into the warm Barbadian sunshine.
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