Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		2.5

The Chill Factor Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 25, 2019

For some positively charming information (to this reviewer, anyway) on the background of a little organization called Windsor Lake Studios, I recommend a perusal of our Trapped Alive Blu-ray review, which gets into some of the history of the production house and its unlikely location in the woods of northern Wisconsin, an area which by chance I happen to be somewhat familiar with (as I also get into in that review). As I mentioned in that review, some of the supplements talk about two other films Windsor Lake Studios managed to put out, and I guessed that one of them was The Chill Factor, which indeed turns out to be the case (I’m still not absolutely positive, but I believe the third one may have been a 1990 horror opus called The Inheritor). As with Trapped Alive, The Chill Factor evidently came out under a variety of titles, including Demon Possessed and just plain old Chill Factor (i.e., without a definite article attached), but it’s arguable that this film makes at least somewhat better use of its Wisconsin locations, since in this instance the action takes place above ground rather than in an abandoned mine, as was the case with Trapped Alive. This is another kind of silly lo-fi horror effort, but it’s kind of goofily enjoyable, much like its Windsor Lake Studios sibling.

The Chill Factor takes advantage of the fact that, as some may find at least slightly comical, Eagle River, Wisconsin bills itself as “the snowmobile capital of the world,” and so snowmobiling plays a major part in the story. When a snowmobile accident causes an injury, a group of snowmobilers looks for some refuge, finding an abandoned summer camp (see Trapped Alive for more information about this actual location). It turns out this particular summer camp may not have exactly been all peaches and cream, and in fact may have been more toward the sulphur and hellfire side of the spectrum, leading to a series of calamitous, and again perhaps slightly funny at times, deaths. The result is a kind of bizarre mashup of “stranded in a cabin” and demonic possession aspects that isn’t particularly scary, but has its own rather distinctive identity.

The Chill Factor Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Chill Factor is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

The Chill Factor has been exclusively restored by Arrow Films and is presented in 1.85:1 with stereo audio.

An original 35mm low-con print was scanned in 2K resolution, graded and restored at OCN Digital Labs.

The soundtrack was sourced from a set of original 2" tape masters.

All restoration work was completed at OCN Labs.

All original materials used in this restoration were accessed from Films Around the World.

With an understanding that a low-con print is probably not the ideal source for a transfer, The Chill Factory actually looks surprisingly good quite a bit of the time, again with a proper understanding about sourcing. The opening few minutes are pretty rough looking, and recurrently throughout this presentation some of the snowbound scenes feature a pretty coarse looking grain field and middling at best detail levels (see screenshot 14 for just one example). Some of the supposedly fireplace lit interior camp scenes don't offer a surplus of shadow detail. There looks like there was also at least one malfunctioning lens utilized on the shoot, as there are noticeable refraction "ghosts" that show up. The entire transfer is on the soft side, and the snow and mist laden scenes probably don't help in that regard. All of this said, the palette pops quite pleasingly through the bulk of the transfer, and detail levels in more brightly lit moments are more than passable. This obviously is not an optimal presentation, but for such a little remembered cult item, it probably looks better than anyone might have expected. My score is 3.25.

The Chill Factor Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Chill Factor features an LPCM 2.0 track that serves the film's somewhat limited sonic ambitions perfectly well. Some of the outdoor material, with the revving motors of multiple snowmobiles, bristles with at least occasional energy, but much of this film takes place inside, and consists of patently silly dialogue scenes, interspersed with the occasional scream of terror. There's a slightly boxy sound in the highest registers, but overall this is a problem free track that encounters no serious issues along the way.

The Chill Factor Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Special Makeup Effects Assistant Hank Carlson and horror writer Josh Hadley re-teams the pair from the commentary on Trapped Alive. While this is arguably somewhat less engaging since they're revisiting at least some of the same history and/or material, anyone with an interest in northern Wisconsin filmmaking (and you know who you are) should enjoy this.


• Lights! Camera! Snowmobiles! (1080p; 13:02) is a really engaging interview with production manager Alexandra Reed, who talks about her first "big" gig in this capacity on this shoot.


• Fire and Ice (1080p; 11:21) features stunt coordinator Gary Paul, who discusses some of the snowmobiling antics in the film.


• Portrait of a Makeup Artist (1080p; 15:03) features special makeup effects artist Jeffery Lyle Segal.


• Ouija and Chill (1080p; 25:28) offers an on screen appearance by co-commentator Hank Carlson, who served the film as special makeup effects assistant, here interviewed by his co-commentator Josh Hadley.


• Original VHS Workprint (1080p; 1:23:56) is culled from the "personal archives" (AKA basement) of Hank Carlson. There are some kind of charming tape anomalies like tracking problems and the like, but this is in surprisingly decent shape given the source.


• Demon Possessed Orignal Home Video VHS Trailer (1080p; 2:00) discloses each and every plot point of the film, as Josh Hadley mentions in the commentary on the main feature, and so those wanting to save an hour and a half or so may want to check this out first.


• Stills Gallery (1080p; 4:30

The packaging includes a reversible sleever featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Schoenbach and Sadist Art Designs, and as usual Arrow has provided a nicely appointed insert booklet with information on the cast and crew, an essay entitled "The Chill Factor: A Beautiful Disaster" by Mike White, and information on the transfer.

The Chill Factor Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you see only one film about desperate snowmobilers caught in the wilds around Eagle River, Wisconsin, make it The Chill Factor (probably because you won't be able to find another film about desperate snowmobilers caught in the wilds around Eagle River, Wisconsin). This is another lo-fi effort that has its own goofy charms, but whose Blu-ray release may be more alluring due to its often charming special features rather than the film itself. A less than ideal source element means only so much could be done with this, but with that said, technical merits are generally solid for those considering a purchase.