With taglines like “extinction will find you” and “the sacrifice begins,” you may be a little put off by The Thaw. Surprisingly, it’s not as bad as it looks. This social commentary on the issues that come along with global warming is one of the better horror films of the year.
The premise behind the story is that Dr. David Kruipen, a scientist played by Val Kilmer, and his team discover a wooly mammoth thawing in a polar ice cap. Unfortunately, as the mammoth defrosts, so does a dormant parasite, which is now able to infect new hosts. After the demise of the team of scientists, four college students arrive on the scene (one of whom is Kruipen’s daughter) to find the bugs already on the loose and causing trouble. The students must keep the parasite from leaving the remote region, but will they choose to stay quarantined or will they release the bugs into the world and cause a worldwide epidemic?
While the plot isn’t the most original (cold locations and parasites tend to go hand in hand these days), and a lot of the story involves mayhem and gore [read: really gross amputation], most of the acting is pretty good. While Aaron Ashmore may never qualify for an Oscar, he wasn’t half bad, and both Val Kilmer and Martha MacIsaac did a great job vividly personifying their characters. Also, the way the bugs eat people is very realistic and scares the hell out of me. Somebody was definitely in school the day they covered CGI effects, although the wooly mammoth was a bit suspicious looking.
Another thing that makes the story so realistic is the setting. Filmed on location in British Columbia, the setting is both gorgeous and frighteningly austere. The desolation and solitude provide the perfect shooting atmosphere for a movie like this. Not only did it ring true to what was being portrayed, but there was something a bit ominous about it as well. One thing’s for sure, this is not my ideal vacation spot…no offense, Canada.
Ultimately, the point of the movie is to get the viewer thinking about the choices he or she makes on a daily basis, and what those choices are doing to the environment. In case you didn’t pick this up in the movie, let me spell it out for you. Ride the freaking bus. Take the subway. Make an effort to reduce your carbon footprint. Get rid of all that pesky Styrofoam that is just going to end up sitting in a landfill. Recycle your paper and plastic. If you don’t, someday we are going to inadvertently destroy our planet, and having your flesh eaten by bugs will be the least of your worries.
If you’re not interested in political commentary or gruesome suspense, this movie is probably not for you. However, if you like realistic thrillers, are part of the green movement, or would just like to watch Val Kilmer die, I would highly recommend it.
DVD Bonus Features
Aside from the ever popular special features like English and Spanish subtitles (you have to love when those are included in the bonus features list) there is also a "Behind the Scenes" featurette, which was pretty typical and not really all that exciting. The only other extra was the "Ghost House Micro Video" featuring Winds of Plague. Before realizing what it was, I thought it sounded pretty interesting. Upon realizing that this is basically just promotional material for other new Ghost House Underground titles, I now wish I had those three minutes of my life back. I very much suggest you skip it.
"The Thaw" is on sale October 6, 2009 and is rated R. Horror. Directed by Mark A Lewis. Written by Mark A. Lewis & Michael Lewis. Starring Val Kilmer, William B Davis, Peter Kelamis, Gary Chalk.
