I
If this thriller from the UK and Canada contains a hardened layer of malice like a wind-beaten snow crust, it may not be as dense beneath the surface. However, it is still an enjoyable release in the digital realm. Ana, a friendly but downtrodden waitress, is saved from her abusive husband Vincent by a chance encounter with diner David. Despite having his dessert ruined and facing potential violence, David remains eerily calm. However, Vincent, who embodies the stereotypical redneck, follows him and causes David to crash into a snowdrift in the Colorado Rockies during a blizzard with temperatures reaching -40C. To make matters worse, there is no cell phone signal in the area.
Sébastien Drouin’s first feature film displays a sharp and confident tone, evident from the initial rebuff during a conversation over cherry pie. The director’s skillful use of plot twists, starting with what is found in David’s trunk, adds to the overall pulpy atmosphere. The film takes a sudden turn, focusing on two characters trapped in a hatchback, facing both the deadly cold outside and the psychopathic intentions of one of them. Drouin, along with his co-writers James Kermack and Andrew Desmond, meticulously build the tension and intricacies of this situation, from the practicalities of escaping a car trunk to the manipulations and mind games of a sadistic individual.
However, its scope is limited. The main concept that all humans have the potential for cruelty when pushed to their limits is only partially developed. This ultimately weakens the moral and supernatural condemnation added by Drouin, which seems unnecessary considering the well-established theme of human evil. The two main characters have a strong dynamic, with Allen’s unflinching gaze and glimmering eyelashes in the rear-view mirror creating an unsettling sense of intimacy. While Cold Meat may not have a lot of depth, it is sharp and chilling.
Source: theguardian.com
