Based on a true story of a killer, his prey and a dedicated law-man in 1980s wintry Alaska, The Frozen Ground stars Nicholas Cage, Vanessa Hudgens and John Cusack in some predictable and some not so predictable roles. The film may rely heavily on the acting skills of Hudgens and the unusually-cast Cusack to relieve some of the more well-explored aspects of the serial killer story arc but there are other things to recommend it. 50 Cent is imaginatively cast as a pimp, for example.
Hudgens plays teenage prostitute Cindy Paulson who has the slightly double-edged pleasure of escaping from certain death and living to tell her tale, which naturally is not believed. One of the policemen she talks to doesn’t even believe that prostitutes can be raped, which says a lot for that town’s quality law enforcement. In swoops kindly state trooper Jack Halcombe (Nic Cage) to save the day, taking on her complicated case even though he only has two weeks left before he’s due to leave town. If that doesn’t sound familiar y’all need to catch up on your murder mysteries, stat. If you’re anything like me, Turner and Hooch might have popped into your mind. Sadly, a young Tom Hanks and the lovable slobbery pooch Hooch do not star in this flick.
That’s not to say that The Frozen Ground needs 1980s Hanks and a doggie; John Cusack almost makes up for that all by himself, creeping out all-comers as Robert Hansen. Vanessa Hudgens proves to Miley that you don’t have to wave a huge foam finger in the general direction of your almost-naked private area while dancing with Beetelgeuse to bury the ghost of bland children’s entertainment. You can dance in your bra and pants while pretending to be a prostitute instead. She was good though, especially her impression of Uma Thurman’s character in Pulp Fiction taking a drug overdose. Nicholas Cage approaches his role in a little bit more of a pedestrian style than the others but does develop a good relationship with onscreen charge Hudgens.
First time writer/director Scott Walker has done well enough for his first go at a feature film; excellent photography, good cast and some thought-provoking story angles make The Frozen Ground worth a watch despite the rambly aspects of the film.
Extras : ‘Examining The Frozen Ground’ goes over the basics of the true story behind the film and some less discussed topics on the subject of serial killers and their victims, particularly the choice of vice girls as targets. Otherwise, there’s a lot of cast/director interview action saying how great director/actors/Alaska were.
Maryann has awarded The Frozen Ground on DVD three Torches of Truth
