Frostbitten (2006)
By Shane Rivers
Before the Swedes made Let the Right One In, they released this little vampire flick in 2006. While it doesn’t always hit on all cylinders, Frostbitten does provide an entertaining and bloody companion piece to the aforementioned film.
After a beautiful opening shot reminiscent of a snow globe, we join the exploits of a group of Scandinavian SS soldiers in 1944. Lost and freezing in the Ukrainian wilderness, they seek refuge in an abandoned cabin. Of course, it’s not as empty as it appears, and we soon get our first vampire action of the film.
The story then jumps to modern day, where Annika (Petra Nielsen) and her daughter Saga (Grete Havneskold) are relocating to a new city. Annika is a doctor, and she’s taken a new job in the hopes of being able to work with famed physician Beckert (Carl-Ake Eriksson). Beckert, by the way, has a nasty habit of carrying around a hammer and wooden stake.
As Annika settles into her new job and Saga befriends a cheeky lass named Vega (Emma T. Aberg), strange events begin to occur: a local kid is murdered, a hospital employee starts talking to animals, and Beckert finally gets to use that hammer and stake.
If you’re looking for lots of gore, let me warn you: the majority of bloodletting in Frostbitten occurs off-camera. There is a death by lawn gnome, however, so it’s not entirely a lost cause. Oh, and don’t miss the classic poodle murder.
Much like Let the Right One In, loving attention is paid to the weaknesses and abilities of the vampire: reflections fade when looking into a mirror, garlic doesn’t go down so well, and dogs have an annoying habit of taunting you about the state of your immortal soul–especially pugs who sound like they‘ve been inhaling helium. It’s also not advisable to shake hands with a priest unless the fire department is standing by.
While there’s plenty to like about Frostbitten, director Anders Banke also demonstrates his lack of experience behind the camera. Fades and wipes give the film the feel of an old television episode, and later scenes involving vampiric teenagers are clumsily staged. The story also gets cluttered down the stretch, as Banke tries to juggle three simultaneous events. The constant cutting between these scenes prevents any of them from building momentum.
Some moments of comedy are attempted, but these are largely unsuccessful. Frostbitten does an effective job of establishing a gloomy mood early on, and the later jokes just wind up feeling forced and decidedly unfunny.
But despite its many shortcomings, Frostbitten is worth watching. The overall story is interesting, the effects are decent, and Grete Havneskold looks great in her underwear. If you’re planning on seeing Let the Right One In, take the opportunity to make it a Swedish vampire double feature.
This Frostbitten movie review is copyright 2009 Small World Marketing and Shane Rivers. This Frostbitten review should not be reprinted without the permission of the copyright holders.
This movie review of Frostbitten expresses the opinion of the author only. Other Frostbitten movie reviews are available online, and some of those might or might not express different opinions on the movie. Like those other Frostbitten movie reivews, this Frostbitten review is intended for the entertainment and education of the reader. This Frostbitten movie review is provided as is with no warranty or guarantee implied.
