Arctic. (12A.)
Directed by Joe Penna.
Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir. 96 mins.
Tales of survival in extreme environments are popular at the moment. All the woke urban Vikings are studying Bear Grylls for tips on how to brew their IPA after societal collapse. Arctic is a very lean and sparse example which mostly forgoes language and back story. At the start, Mikkelsen has already been stranded in the icy wasteland but has also worked out his daily survival routine around the husk of his crashed plane.
This is a bold narrative choice because it is throwing away the best bits of these tales. Mikkelsen is also a lot more competent than usual stranded protagonist. He knows all the tricks for Arctic survival and seems comparatively unfazed by the situation. Perversely, this makes him very vulnerable: because he's not an underdog and doesn't appear to be based on a true story it isn't a given that he's going to make it.
It's a decent enough film let down by some weak special effects and occasionally the visual storytelling isn't strong enough for a film that is largely non-verbal.
Directed by Joe Penna.
Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Maria Thelma Smáradóttir. 96 mins.
Tales of survival in extreme environments are popular at the moment. All the woke urban Vikings are studying Bear Grylls for tips on how to brew their IPA after societal collapse. Arctic is a very lean and sparse example which mostly forgoes language and back story. At the start, Mikkelsen has already been stranded in the icy wasteland but has also worked out his daily survival routine around the husk of his crashed plane.
This is a bold narrative choice because it is throwing away the best bits of these tales. Mikkelsen is also a lot more competent than usual stranded protagonist. He knows all the tricks for Arctic survival and seems comparatively unfazed by the situation. Perversely, this makes him very vulnerable: because he's not an underdog and doesn't appear to be based on a true story it isn't a given that he's going to make it.
It's a decent enough film let down by some weak special effects and occasionally the visual storytelling isn't strong enough for a film that is largely non-verbal.
