Cold Skin

I love the ocean!

Some people love skiing, some people love snow tsunamis and some people love winter cabins. To those people i have something important to say, it is not too late. You see, if you really think about it, what makes you feel good ? Mountains of avalanches and snow tornados, or a hot sun and a clear blue ocean ? Exactly, i think we all know the answer to this. I personally feel like snow cabins is the entrance to hell. Do we really want to be in a house and dig ourselves out from 284 meters of snow ? That is why we have oceans and sun, we need vitamines, not depression. As long as i can remember, i have swimmed in the ocean, both here in Sweden, but also in Europe and of course in Asia. No matter where the ocean is, i will be there. If there is a snow cabin, i will not be there. Majestic oceans have so much to offer, you can swim, go fishing or just explore the ocean underneath. Hollywood have made plenty of classic films that portrait the ocean, and one of my personal favourite films has to be James Cameron´s classic The Abyss. Released in 1989, this film became a box office hit, and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and was also nominated in 3 other categories. The film is about a U.S. search and recovery team, trying to locate a missing submarine. And deep in the ocean, they encounter something unexpected. Director James Cameron managed to do a very well made science fiction film, with a really good cast included. The Abyss have maintained one of the classics of James Cameron, and if you get the Blu Ray, i suggest you check out the nice special features. The special effects looks great, even today in this film. I could have easily said that Jaws from director Steven Spielberg is one of the ocean movie classics, but there are other ones as well. I think a lot of people don´t talk very much about Tom Hanks film Cast Away. A very dramatic, and almost a different version of Robinson Crusoe from director Robert Zemeckis, in a more modern approach. Since i enjoy sci fi movies, and especially combined with ocean locations, i stumbled upon a review of the film Cold Skin from YouTube reviewer Geek Legion Of Doom. This film looked interesting, and seemed to be taking on a different twist of World War I. A sci fi film, combined with historical references, is Cold Skin a winner, or is this film doomed to loose the audience ?

The year is 1914. A young Irishman named Friend ( David Oakes ) travels to a remote island in the South Atlantic, to work as an meteorologist, as the previous one passed away. The only other inhabitant on the island, is Gruner ( Ray Stevenson ), caretaker of the lighthouse.  Friend finds the previous meteorologists diary, that contain his stories of strange creatures from the ocean. He understands why the previous meteorologist died, now when he encounter the sea creatures himself. Friend manage to survive, as he goes out to find Gruner the day after. He does, but also with one of the creatures close to him. Turns out this specific creature is in company with Gruner, known as Aneris ( Aura Garrido ). She is harmless, and does not attack humans. Friend suggest that they make a deal, he brings coffee and other things from the abandoned cabin, if he can live in the lighthouse. Gruner agree, but only if he learns to defend himself from the sea creatures that attacks every night. With a limited amount of ammunition, and nowhere else to go, will they be able to survive every night the sea creatures attack ?

When you make a film that is set during World War I, it is important to have a good combination of great characters, and a plot that makes you feel interested. And this is something that the movie Cold Skin manage to do. The main characters Gruner ( portrayed by actor Ray Stevenson ) and Friend ( portrayed by actor David Oakes ) are very different from each other. Gruner is an old school tough survivor, who knows how to deal with the rough life on this island. Friend is a book reader, with philosophical ideas, but is not used to this rough enviroment. And when they face the sea creatures together, it is clear that they need to be prepared that anything can happen. The sea creature Aneris ( really well acted by actor Aura Garrido ) that lives with Gruner, is clearly a sea beast with emotions. She connects with Friend, while Gruner see her as a sea beast only. One of the things that surprised me with this film, is how this film is like a different version of I Am Legend with Will Smith. The world is not doomed, but these creatures comes out at night, just like in that film. To survive they must fight against them on the top of the lighthouse at night time. The action scenes are effective, and the survival attempts also fits with the story, especially when the attacks become brutal. I can sense that there are a few similarities between Cold Skin and The Shape Of Water. The connection that grows between Friend and Aneris. Since the landscape is rough and cold, it feels like they found the right location to make this film. Director Xavier Gens directed the very well made french horror film Frontier(s) from 2007, and he also directed the first Hitman film based on the video game. I have to say that Cold Skin is one of his best films so far, from a director perspective. He have combined science fiction with historical elements, that actually works well. I would have liked to know the origin story behind the sea creatures, but otherwise i feel that this is a film that will most likely please sci fi fans of all ages. Cold Skin is one of the surprises i have seen this early spring, and i must say that this is a film i would recommend. It is unique in some ways, even if you can recognize some influences. Worth a watch with your family, and you might feel like hugging each other after this experience.

Rating: DDD