1. Plot Summary
A group of five friends — Jannicke, Eirik (her boyfriend), Morten Tobias, Mikal, and Ingunn — head into the Norwegian mountains of Jotunheimen for a snowboarding excursion. Rotten Tomatoes+4IMDb+4TV Tropes+4
During their trip, Morten suffers a bad fall and breaks his leg. Because they are remote, night is approaching, and help is too far away, the group stumbles upon an old, abandoned ski lodge / mountain hotel and decide to take shelter there for the night. Rotten Tomatoes+6IMDb+6Horror Fandom+6
Inside, they begin to sense the lodge is not completely deserted. Strange noises, locked rooms, hidden passageways, and hints of past tragedies emerge. The hotel was closed decades ago due to a disappearance (including of the owners’ son) and rumors of dark secrets. Hysteria Lives!+3Horror Fandom+3Cineccentric+3
As the night deepens, one by one, the friends become targets of a mysterious, masked killer moving through the snow-bound halls. They must use their wits and resourcefulness to survive the night, confront the killer’s identity, and escape the isolated trap. TV Tropes+5TV Tropes+5Cineccentric+5
In the film’s climax, Jannicke confronts the killer, which leads to the reveal that the antagonist is connected to the haunting past of the hotel—specifically, the boy from the opening incident in the 1970s. TV Tropes+3Horror Fandom+3Cineccentric+3
2. Notable Elements
Setting & Atmosphere
One of Cold Prey’s greatest strengths is its use of snow, isolation, and cold as atmospheric elements. The snowy mountains, the cold silence, and the desolate lodge all amplify the vulnerability of the characters.
The lodge itself becomes a maze of corridors, locked doors, forgotten rooms, and hidden passages — the setting feels labyrinthine and threatening.
Lighting is often dim, with flickering power (they restore or discover the generator) adding suspense.
The opening sequence (1970s child pursued in snow) sets a chilling prologue, giving the hotel a cursed or haunted backstory before the main action begins. Jigsaw’s Lair+3Horror Fandom+3Wikipedia+3
Characters & Performances
- Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as Jannicke stands out as the main protagonist. As the tension builds, she shifts from frightened survivor to a more proactive, resilient figure. Wikipedia+4Horror 101 with Drac+4Jigsaw’s Lair+4
- The rest of the cast deliver natural interactions and believable chemistry (friends on trip), which helps the horror feel grounded rather than purely formulaic. Hysteria Lives!+3Horror 101 with Drac+3Cineccentric+3
- The killer is mostly masked and obscured, which maintains mystery and dread. Scenes often show partial limbs, boots, shadows, rather than full reveals early on. Horror Fandom+4Hysteria Lives!+4TV Tropes+4
Suspense & Pacing
The film takes its time building dread—kills don’t come immediately. Some viewers note the first murder doesn’t happen until well into the film, which can test patience but also builds tension. Hysteria Lives!+3Reddit+3Cineccentric+3
The predictable slasher structure is present, but director Uthaug often leans into familiar tropes with competence, combining them with local flavor (Norwegian wilderness) to refresh them. Hysteria Lives!+3Cineccentric+3TV Tropes+3
Some scenes are especially memorable:
- When Ingunn (or others) explore parts of the lodge and find burnt rooms, trapped corridors, or secret storage, creating creeping dread. Hysteria Lives!+2TV Tropes+2
- The confrontation in the killer’s workshop, where Jannicke finds tools and masks and must fight in dim light with limited advantage. Hysteria Lives!+3Jigsaw’s Lair+3Cineccentric+3
Yet, the film also has shortcomings:
- Some kills are abrupt and under-shown — the camera cuts away just as violence happens, reducing visceral impact. TV Tropes+3The ScreenSlut+3Hysteria Lives!+3
- At times, character decisions feel illogical (not exploring plausible escape routes, splitting up in dangerous spaces) — common in slasher films, but it strains credulity. Jigsaw’s Lair+3The ScreenSlut+3Cineccentric+3
- The backstory, while providing motive, is a bit underdeveloped; more could have been done to deepen the psychological horror.
3. Themes & Messages
- Isolation and helplessness: The remote snowbound setting leaves the group cut off from rescue or outside aid, intensifying human vulnerability when faced with a predator.
- Haunted pasts & unresolved trauma: The hotel’s dark history (the missing boy) haunts the present. The killer is a living embodiment of that unresolved past.
- Survival / resourcefulness: The characters must improvise — rig lights, explore hidden passages, confront the killer — rather than rely on external rescue.
- Fear of the unknown: The masked, hidden killer plays on our fear of shadows, hidden corners, and what we can’t see.
- Strength in adversity, emergence of heroism: Jannicke’s arc from victim to survivor symbolizes that desperation can awaken hidden reserves of courage.
Regarding holiday traditions or sentiments, Cold Prey is not a holiday film and doesn’t evoke seasonal sentimentality. However, if one stretches metaphorically, one could say that its themes of rescue, survival, confronting darkness (both literal and metaphoric), and endurance through trials echo some deeper currents in holiday storytelling (light vs darkness, hope, redemption). But those connections are indirect and more symbolic than explicit.
4. Personal Impressions
What worked for me:
- The snowy, claustrophobic setting is superb. Few slasher films leverage cold and isolation so effectively; the harsh environment becomes a character in itself.
- Jannicke as a lead is compelling — her performance pulls you along through fear, doubt, and resolve.
- The pacing, though slow in parts, allows tension to build. I appreciated that the film didn’t rush into gore, but let dread accumulate.
- The mix of familiar slasher tropes with the local (Norwegian mountain) flavor gives it enough novelty to stay engaging.
- The final reveal, tying the killer to the opening backstory, gives the narrative symmetry and a chilling resonance.
What didn’t quite land / criticisms:
- As with many slasher films, some characters act in ways that test plausibility — splitting up, avoiding obvious safe paths, delaying escape attempts.
- The violence is sometimes under-shown; viewers seeking graphic horror may feel shortchanged.
- The backstory feels a little thin; more psychological depth or motives could have enriched the horror.
- At times, the film lingers on atmosphere at the expense of momentum—some slower stretches felt a bit padded.
- The killer’s identity, while satisfying, doesn’t break fresh ground in the slasher genre; it leans on conventional horror logic.
Overall, though imperfect, Cold Prey often delivers enough tension, suspense, and environmental dread to satisfy genre fans.
5. Audience Recommendations
You’ll likely enjoy Cold Prey if:
- You are a fan of slasher / horror films, especially those that emphasize atmosphere, isolation, and suspense.
- You like horror set in extreme landscapes (snow, wilderness) rather than urban or suburban settings.
- You appreciate leads who evolve (fear to action) rather than perfect heroes from the start.
- You are okay with some narrative predictability and don’t expect radical reinvention—but do want a well-executed, moody horror experience.
- You don’t require extreme gore or over-the-top violence — the threat is often implied, not always shown in full detail.
It might be less appealing if:
- You demand deep psychological horror, moral ambiguity, or highly original storytelling.
- You prefer horror with fast pacing and frequent action rather than slower dread.
- You dislike characters making questionable decisions (a hallmark of many genre films).
6. Conclusion & Rating
Cold Prey is a solid entry in the slasher genre — not a masterpiece, but one that uses its setting, mood, and a committed lead to elevate what could have been formula. Its snowbound lodge, creeping dread, and masked killer create a chilling experience, especially for viewers who enjoy horror tinged with isolation and environment. While some genre clichés and pacing issues detract, the film often succeeds on its atmospheric strength and the gradual escalation of terror.
Final recommendation: If you’re looking for a horror film that blends austerity, cold dread, and old-school slasher suspense, Cold Prey is worth a watch—especially on a dark, wintry evening.
Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5)
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