Cold Prey

Exceptional cinematography, above-average performances, genuine scares and attention to characterization elevate Cold Prey, a fairly standard hack-and-slash, serial-killer-stalks-perky-20-somethings well beyond other films of this ilk, showing that a twist or gimmick may not be necessary in the making of a solid horror film. Aside from a fairly generic, lumbering, two-dimensional villain, the building tensions and resultant brutality bring audience engagement to the forefront, ensuring their investment in the outcome, rather than the typical mortal apathy associated with the majority of blood-soaked releases. From the perspective of psychosexual horror clichés and morality-drenched murders, Cold Prey defies conventions, having predictability but breaking other conventions with gusto. The plot is quite simple, detailing a snowboarding trip between nascent lovers Ingunn (Viktoria Winge) and Mikal (Endre Martin Midtstigen), along with their friends, a more established couple, Jannicke (Ingrid Borso Berdal) and Eirik (Tomas Alf Larsen), and single friend Morten (Rolf Kristian Larsen). Given the remoteness of their snowboarding destination, understandable concern arises when Morton breaks his leg. Luckily the gang find nearby shelter in a seemingly abandoned resort, only to find that a broken leg might be the least of their problems. Included with the DVD are varieties of features that cover almost every possible production angle in explicit detail. Featurettes on the visual effects and the making of prove highly informative, entertaining and easy to understand, despite the fact that they are in Norwegian with English subtitles, which holds true for the brief "Car Scenes" featurette as well, which gives back story. Also included is a storyboarded alternate ending that is both more elaborate and more perilous than the one offered on screen, in addition to seven minutes of bloopers. In addition to a music video for "One Eye Open" and some trailers, there are two short films included, which examine the perils of mowing your lawn and some strange additional footage.