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JT (287 KP) rated Arctic (2019) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020

Arctic (2019)

2019 | Adventure, Drama

8.0

(5 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Survival films have the ability to give us a sense of false hope by dragging us through a gut wrenching narrative that will ultimately end in heartache. Even right up until the final moments we still cling to the hope that a recuse will come.

Arctic takes us to a desolate and frozen landscape where there is no signs of life – that is until we meet Overgård (Mads Mikkelsen) whose plane has crashed in an environment that offers no chance of escape. We don’t know how long he has been there, but can deduce it must be some time given his efficient method for catching and storing fish and that the crashed shell of his plane almost seems homely.

He understands more than enough to survive showcasing map reading and technical skills to battle the elements. Through driving snow he has the determination to manually crank a radio system in the hope of catching a signal. I’m a massive fan of Mikkelsen whose calm facial expressions still give me nightmares after watching the hit series Hannibal in which he was fantastic.

Here those expressions are more pained than sinister as Overgård has to make a decision as to whether to stay put, or make the perilous journey to find rescue. The introduction of a second character makes that decision for him and armed with whatever he can carry and pull on a sled, he sets out into the bleak and unforgiving wilderness. With limited dialogue this minimalist survival thriller will set pulses racing to the end.