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Frozen In Fear cast: Eric Roberts, Rod Steiger, and Catherine Oxenberg director: Robin P. Murray 95 minutes (15) 2000 Universal VHS rental RATING: 2/10 reviewed by Debbie Moon |
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Rarely has a film had a less appropriate title than this one. You're more likely to be yawning in the armchair, when you're not sniggering at the heavy-handed spookiness and clichéd characters, or being annoyed by cheap he's-behind-you shocks. The script seems to be groping for Twin Peaks style surreal menace, but a selection pack of silhouetted figures, meaningful dialogue and dreamed flashbacks just isn't good enough. The killer might as well have 'nutcase' tattooed on his forehead, and even if you can summon some sympathy for our heroine, you'll be begging for the murderer to turn his attentions to her whiny, pretentious assistant.
Somewhere in here, there's the kernel of an interesting idea about a dysfunctional family and father-son relationships, but it's weighed down by serial killer clichés and small town melodrama. Apart from the splendid mountain scenery, there's very little to recommend this - and very little here that you won't have seen somewhere before.