Joel Kinnaman Faces the Freeze in “Ice Fall” — A Chilling Survival Thriller That Melts Just in Time

Joel Kinnaman ventures to the Arctic for his latest action flick in “Ice Fall” from Aura Entertainment. Stefan Ruzowitzky directs the film from a screenplay by Steve Isles and George Mahaffey.

The film opens with the menacing Drake (DeVaughn Nixon), a ruthless criminal mastermind, executing a robbery with chilling precision. As he and his crew carry out the heist, they leave a trail of bodies in their wake, showcasing their brutal methods. Drake and his gang are under the employment of Rhodes (Danny Huston), a shady figure with a taste for high-stakes crime. After the robbery is successful, the gang members go their separate ways. However, their plans derail when a small plane carrying a fortune in stolen cash crashes into a frozen lake, leaving them in a precarious situation.

Months later, we meet Ari (Cata Jade Myers), a determined young Indigenous game warden, who has just apprehended Harlan (Joel Kinnaman), a notorious poacher with a dark and troubled past. Ari is deeply committed to protecting the land and wildlife, which makes Harlan’s capture particularly satisfying for her. During the arrest, she discovers that Harlan possesses crucial information about the location of the crashed plane, which holds the stolen loot that both they and the criminals desperately seek.

Unbeknownst to Ari, Drake and his loyal crew are still in the vicinity, tirelessly searching for their lost fortune and willing to resort to violence to reclaim it. With their ruthless tactics and even a handful of corrupt cops in pursuit, the situation becomes increasingly dangerous. Realizing they must rely on each other to escape the impending threat, Ari and Harlan form an uneasy alliance. Together, they must navigate the treacherous, icy landscape, racing against time to survive as the winter chill turns to spring and the ice beneath them begins to melt.

While I wasn’t familiar with the director, I’ve been a fan of Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman since the “Easy Money” trilogy. Despite his best efforts, though, the actor could never quite crack the formula for major stardom. That said, I’m willing to give anything he does a fair shot.

“Ice Fall” is a typical Kinnaman vehicle that taps into the actor’s niche. The creative team wisely chooses not to let the film overstay its welcome. Even in moments where they delve into Harlan’s backstory, the action picks back up quickly, whether it’s fisticuffs or gun battles. The cast embraces the character tropes a film like this requires, though DeVaughn Nixon stands out, and I would love to see him play another villain.

Running a brisk ninety minutes, “Ice Fall” is a harmless one-time watch.

Final Grade: B-

“Ice Fall” is ON DIGITAL & ON DEMAND NOVEMBER 4.