Dead of Winter: Emma Thompson showcases why she is one of the greats!
When the days get shorter and the leaves start falling from the trees, two rituals return: biscuit dunking in a hot cup of tea and revisiting isolation-driven suspense films where footpaths on the snow seem endless. Inevitably, that means rewatching Jack Torrence following his son into a snow-covered labyrinth in The Shining and joining MacReady against Rob Bottin’s grotesque prosthetics in The Thing. This year, though, we welcome a new film on this list: Brian Kirk’s Dead of Winter.
Dead of Winter follows Barb (Dame Emma Thompson) as a Minnesotan widow who sets out to fulfil a promise to her late husband: to scatter his ashes around Lake Hilda, where they had their first date. What was an introspective journey soon takes more perilous turns. Caught in the middle of a snowstorm and not remembering how to get to the Lake, Barb (Dame Emma Thompson) stops in a cabin to ask for directions. In this remote cabin, a couple with off-putting energy hastily give her directions; however, on her way to the Lake, Barb discovers they are holding a kidnapped girl. Refusing to leave her behind, Barb takes the audience on a suspenseful journey across snow country.
The characters’ motivations go deeper than originally expected and are supported by great performances. Emma Thompson is nothing short of brilliant. Without ever making it feel too far-fetched and unbelievable, Thompson showcases the resourcefulness of a normal person put in abnormal circumstances. However, the show isn’t just Thompson’s with Judy Greer, by far the scariest of the kidnappers, having a stone-cold performance that is sure to leave you worked up.
This is an old-school nail-biting thriller, filled with twists that are sure to keep you guessing, whilst still rewarding you with a worthy payoff. Initially, I watched this film from a place of deep admiration for Thompson; however, it quickly became one of the most surprisingly enjoyable films of the year. My only advice for when you come to The Dukes this week to see Dead of Winter is make sure you sit all the way back in your seat—because soon, you’ll be on the edge of it.
Written by João Eduardo Lima Belchior
Showing at the Dukes from 3rd - 9th September.
