Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Thaw Blu-ray Movie Review

I never thought global warming and the horror genre would appear in the same sentence.

Reviewed by Dustin Somner October 8, 2009

Ghost House Underground is a production company established by Sam Raimi (director of Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell, The Spiderman Trilogy and many more) and Rob Tapert (producing partner on most Sam Raimi films) to help promote independent horror films from up-and-coming directors in the genre. Established in 2007, the label has released a total of eight films up through September of 2009, averaging four horror releases per year. For 2009, the prolific filmmaking duo hand-selected four new entries that mark the production company’s initial foray into the Blu-ray format. Not that I’m going in any specific order, but the second film I’ve chosen from the series is a cautionary tale on the potential hazards of global warming, with a sci-fi/horror twist. As strange as that description sounds, this Canadian production turned out to be a surprisingly effective entry in a genre that typically requires the viewer to leave their brain at the door. That’s not to say there aren’t faults in the heavy-handed nature of the plot, but it was an interesting move to include themes of social responsibility in a horror film.

We have to cherish the fleeing moments he appears in the film.

Dr. David Kruipen (Val Kilmer) is leading a research expedition on the barren landscape of the Arctic, when he stumbles onto one of the greatest finds of this century. Emerging from the receding surface of a glacier is the head of a Wooly Mammoth, preserved over thousands of years in an icy prison. Intrigued by this new find, Dr. Kruipen and his small team of researchers establish a field camp at the Mammoth site, so they can continue to study the preserved remains as they emerge. Meanwhile, a group of three college students are hand-picked by their professor to join Dr. Kruipen and his team at the Arctic station, affording them the opportunity to gain first-hand research experience. Accompanying them, is Dr. Kruipen’s estranged daughter Evelyn (Martha MacIsaac of Superbad and Last House on the Left), who doesn’t share her father’s strong conservationist stance on the environment (in the past, he was known to be a bit of an activist). When the foursome shows up to the Arctic station, they find it completely empty aside from a laboratory with a dead Polar bear draped across the table. Not knowing the fate of the scientists they were supposed to join, or what killed the Polar bear (which is now covered in sores that contain eggs of some sort), the four students and their helicopter pilot hunker down for a night that quickly turns from confusion to despair.

The Thaw won’t ever find its way onto a list of top horror films, but compared with some of the awful genre offerings from Hollywood over the past decade, this is still a fresh experience. What makes it such an entertaining film is the wonderfully crafted storyline that presents a plausible situation and asks the viewer to decide what is right or wrong. As the opening credits role, we’re introduced to multiple newscasts on global warming, with both sides of the debate presenting their own view on the reality of the situation. It doesn’t take long for the filmmakers to make their opinion known (in a heavy-handed manner), but that stance plays a central role in the events that occur later in the film. I tried my best to avoid giving too much away in the synopsis of the film, but the scenario that leads to the release of the parasitic creatures is more plausible than I expected from a low-budget horror film. Likewise, the moralistic choices that emerge as the story plays out force the viewer to question a stance that will only become more relevant in our society as the years pass by. Simply put, at the rate the world population is multiplying, is it only a matter of time before nature unleashes a devastating form of population control to bring back balance? I’m not endorsing either opinion on the matter, but some might question whether pandemics, viruses and cancers are really nature’s way of limiting an out-of-control population. By racing to find a cure for these silent killers, are we really just helping to save current lives at the expense of our children’s future? Such food-for-thought forms the basis of the plot in The Thaw, and creates a memorable experience out of something that would otherwise have been a generic experience.

Where The Thaw begins to show weakness, is the combination of elements that generate a been-there, done-that feel. It may seem odd that my assessment of the film includes the words fresh and stale at the same time, but stale is exactly how I’d describe the actual horror elements on display. We’ve seen plenty of films use the claustrophobic setting with greater success (Descent, The Thing), the whole bug scenario is a bit dated (Arachnophobia, Creepshow), and the gory manifestation of virus-like symptoms isn’t enough to elicit chills (anyone remember Cabin Fever?). There are still some unique horror elements thrown in for good measure (including one particularly nasty scene involving a meat cleaver), but the film rarely incorporates true horror elements.

If you’re a Val Kilmer fan, you might be disappointed to find out he’s only in the film for a total of about ten minutes. He still tackles his role as if he’s the leading man, delivering a performance that stands out next to the other primary actors, but it would have been nice to see a bit more of his character. Other than Val Kilmer, we have a smattering of young actors that look strangely familiar, but haven’t generated a laundry list of film roles at this early stage in their careers. Despite the relative inexperience in the young cast, the acting on display is universally strong, matching the proficiency of most young actors currently starring in big-budget productions. I’m sure we’ll continue to see more and more opportunities pop up for these actors, who made a wise decision to accept roles in The Thaw.

The Thaw Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at a bitrate that varies wildly from 12-29Mbps), The Thaw offers an average visual presentation when compared with other recent Blu-ray offerings. Fine object detail rarely appears exceptional, but manages to generate a level of clarity that offers a substantial upgrade over a standard definition release. If you were hoping for a colorful experience, you'll have to temper your expectations somewhat, since the filmmakers chose to drape the entire film in a blue tint that enhances the cold, claustrophobic tone of the story. I'm usually not a fan of heavy filtering to push the overall spectrum in the direction of a certain hue, but The Thaw is one of the few examples where it works to the film's advantage. Unfortunately, I wasn't too pleased with the depth of black levels during the low-light interior scenes, which rarely dip below a dark shade of gray. Contrast seems strong despite the occasionally weak black levels, but it still can't overcome the uphill climb in a couple of scenes, resulting in a loss of shadow detail. Taken as a whole, the transfer never demonstrates an impressive level of proficiency, but stacked side-by-side with a budget-busting Hollywood production this is still a fine effort on the part of Lionsgate.

The Thaw Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This definitely isn't an action oriented title, but the sound design still delivers enough rousing moments to maintain the intensity throughout the film. Creating a horror/thriller with bugs as the main antagonist opens up a myriad of possibilities when it comes to generating spine-tingling chills, and the filmmakers don't skimp on taking advantage of those opportunities. As the students slowly quarantine off different sections of the research facility, we're constantly listening for the tell-tale ticking noise of the parasites as they inevitably threaten the lives of the remaining survivors. Beyond the creepy factor of the multiplying bugs, I was impressed with the use of the rear surround field to enhance the feeling of claustrophobia in the film. If this were a front heavy mix, we'd be left with a feeling of openness in the sound design, as if we only needed to turn around in order to escape the bug that suddenly appeared before our eyes. By encompassing the viewer in noises from every direction, the audio track maintains an element of unease that enhances the effectiveness of the film.

If there was one area of the mix that could have been better, it would be the volume balance of the dialogue. Val Kilmer is extremely soft-spoken in the film, making it difficult to hear what he's saying at times. It's not terribly distracting or annoying, but still brings down the overall audio score as a result.

The Thaw Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Behind the Scenes (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 13:26 min): This is your normal run-of-the-mill marketing featurette that gives viewers a brief introduction to the themes and characters in the film. There are still some interesting moments mixed in (the overview of how they managed to generate the realistic meat-cleaver-through-an-arm scene is the most entertaining), but I'm guessing most viewers won't waste their time on this one.

Rounding out the extras, there's a standard definition trailer for The Thaw, a video collection promoting the Ghost House film series (standard definition), and theatrical trailers for other Lionsgate releases.

The Thaw Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ghost House Underground is typically known for low-budget horror films that most major studios wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Much to my surprise, the production values, plot, and acting in The Thaw are all extremely close to a Hollywood production, making this one of the better films released under Sam Raimi's fledgling studio. Perhaps the film never received an American theatrical release because of its underlying message on global warming, but I felt the questions raised in the film present an interesting alternate opinion on environmental issues. This naturally won't appeal to everyone (and even has the potential to offend some viewers), but I'd give it a strong recommendation to anyone looking for an intelligent thriller this Halloween.