FROZEN GROUND: IMDB Synopsis
An Alaska State Trooper partners with a young woman who escaped the clutches of serial killer, Robert Hansen, to bring the murderer to justice. Based on actual events.
The Frozen Ground is based on the true story of an Alaskan serial killer, Robert Hansen (John Cusack) and a detective Jack Holcombe (played by Nicolas Cage), who starts to piece together connections between a number of missing persons reports and the discovery of young girl’s bodies buried out in the frozen Alaskan wilderness. His investigation takes a leap forward when he finds a potential survivor of one of this suspected serial killer’s attacks, a teenage prostitute named Cindy Paulson (Vanessa Hudgens).
Hansen was one of the most prolific serial killers of the ’70s/’80s, responsible for abducting, raping, and murdering over 20 women. The investigation at the time faltered through the reluctance of the senior officials in the police force not wanting to reopen old/closed cases. The additional problem, and what is show well in the movie, is that the only possible witness is a teenage prostitute (Cindy) with her own criminal past. It takes Holcombe, and his insight and efforts to draw information out of her, to break open the case.
The interplay between Hudgens and Cage is probably the most successful facet of the film. Cage turns in one of the most restrained performances of his career, as he opens up and shares his pain with Cindy to build trust and allow her to take the steps needed to help bring this murderer to justice; a reminder of how good he can be when he isn’t playing to the excessive caricature he is in some films. Vanessa Hudgens continues to cast off the shackles of her previous Disney-career following up an impressive turn in Spring Breakers with an unglamorous and gritty performance. Some of her scenes working in a strip club or on the side of the road give her much to do and efficiently portray the world she is from and why so few in the police force view her as a worthy witness.
John Cusack (Hansen) continues to be one of my favorite go-to actors. In real life, Hansen was a well respected member of his community, a somewhat unremarkable man who was unexpectedly a serial killer. Cusack is a great choice and walks the line between these two personas well. However, the film does not spend enough time showing this ‘regular guy’ side to Hansen enough. Had the film built up his everyday life more, the reality of how much of a monster he was would have been underlined to an even greater extent. That said, the scenes between Hansen and his victims are some of the most successful of the film and equally engrossing and chilling.
The Blu-Ray transfer shows the grittiness of the Anchorage underbelly well and is quite beautiful at times when it shows off the Alaskan wilderness. The disc includes a number of features notable “Examining The Frozen Ground”, a behind the scenes series of interviews with both cast and crew. The are interesting discussions with Cage and Cusack which include their motivations for doing the film as well as interpretations of their characters relationships with each other. The other documentaries, “Writing The Frozen Ground” and “Anatomy of a Serial Killer”, delve into more detail on the truth behind the investigations and how it was adapted to the screen, which is compelling content for anyone interested in the real life atrocities that the film drew from.
The Frozen Ground doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and will feel very familiar to anyone who has seen a few serial killer thrillers, such as Copycat or Silence of the Lambs. It hits the expected notes, even the classic old trope of ‘only having 2 weeks left in the job’ is trotted out. With the back catalog of films and even crime procedurals clogging up the TV schedules it is hard to bring anything truly new to the table, but The Frozen Ground features some great performances against the backdrop of the spectacular Alaskan wild, the massiveness of which gives added scope to how difficult the reality of this investigation was. The Frozen Ground is technically accomplished but lacking emotional depth, a somewhat cold portrayal of a chilling story.
The Frozen Ground is available on VOD now and on Blu-Ray from October 1st 2013.
From the Press Release: The Frozen Ground
Based on the incredible true story of Alaska’s most notorious serial killer, The Frozen Ground arrives on Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital HD UltraViolet), DVD (plus Digital UltraViolet) and Digital Download on October 1st from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The Frozen Ground is currently available on Video on Demand. Starring Nicolas Cage (The National Treasure franchise), John Cusack (Hot Tub Time Machine, 2012) and Vanessa Hudgens (upcoming Machete Kills, Spring Breakers), the engrossing crime drama reveals the untold story of an Alaskan State Trooper who risks everything to bring a murderer to justice.
The Frozen Ground follows Alaskan State Trooper Jack Halcombe (Cage) as he sets out to end the murderous rampage of Robert Hansen (Cusack), a serial killer who has gone unnoticed for 13 years. As the bodies of street girls start to pile up in Anchorage, fear strikes a chord with the public. Risking his life, Halcombe goes on a personal manhunt to find the killer before the next body surfaces. When a seventeen year old escapee (Hudgens) reveals key information about the case, Halcombe is finally on the trail of the killer. But will he catch him in time to save the next victim?
The Blu-ray Disc and DVD are packed with exclusive bonus material including deleted scenes, audio commentary, multiple featurettes and extended interviews with the film’s cast and crew. The Frozen Ground Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98, respectively.
BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES Audio commentary with Writer/Director Scott Walker and Producers Mark Ordesky and Jane Fleming Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary with Writer/Director Scott Walker “Examining The Frozen Ground: Behind-the-scenes with Interviews with Cast and Crew” featurette “Writing The Frozen Ground” featurette “Anatomy of a Serial Killer” featurette
Extended Interviews with Cast and Crew