Review of The Frozen Ground (2013) by Brandon C — 05 Jun 2014

This was a surprisingly entertaining film about a terrifyingly real serial killer, played with a sociopathic grit and realism by John Cusack. He is imposing by his total lack of empathy and emotion - a man who could fit in and even be respected.

He was a pillar of his community, and Cusack allows an amiable enough outer surface, while always vaguely hinting to the monster within. It is a complex performance in a simple film. And it is matched, scene by scene, by Nicholas Cage's fiercely empathic policeman who is never fooled by Hansen's(Cusack) facade.

The film itself would be nothing special without either of these two leads. With them, it is magnetically watchable. Of course, neither Cusack nor Cage give the finest performance in the film. Vanessa Hudgens (Yes, the girl from high school musical) shows a complexity of character and a deft subtlety in portraying a 17 year old prostitute who is Hansen's only surviving victim.

She sheds her inhibitions in the role, and she nails it She is basically a street urchin, but Hudgens makes her so relatable that you can't help but root for her. She is a revelation. But the movie seems unsure which of these three characters to really focus on, so the final result is a bit muddled.

But that is the only complaint here. It may be an unsure, simplistic film from a well worn genre, but the reality (it is a true story) makes Hansen all the more terrifying, and the performances from the three leads make it well worth the less than 2 hour running time.

Give it a shot.