''The Thaw'' is a 2009 American
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
horror thriller film
Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...
directed by Mark A. Lewis and starring
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer (born December 31, 1959) is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer found fame after appearances in comedy films, starting with ''Top Secret!'' (1984) and ''Real Genius'' (1985), as well as the military action film ...
,
Martha MacIsaac
Martha MacIsaac (born October 11, 1984) is a Canadian actress. She has appeared in several feature films, including '' Superbad'' (2007), ''The Last House on the Left'' (2009), ''Dead Before Dawn'' (2012), and, most recently, ''Battle of the Sex ...
, and
Aaron Ashmore
Aaron Richard Ashmore (born October 7, 1979) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his roles on American television series such as Jimmy Olsen on ''Smallville'', Steve Jinks on '' Warehouse 13'' and Johnny Jaqobis on the Canadian television series ...
.
Plot
The film begins with a video documentary by Dr. David Kruipen (
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer (born December 31, 1959) is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer found fame after appearances in comedy films, starting with ''Top Secret!'' (1984) and ''Real Genius'' (1985), as well as the military action film ...
), a research scientist on
Banks Island
Banks Island is one of the larger members of the Arctic Archipelago. Situated in the Inuvik Region, and part of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, of the Northwest Territories, it is separated from Victoria Island to its east by the Prince of ...
, in the Canadian Arctic and the outbreak of a pandemic, with 400 dead and 10,000 infected. This is followed by a flashback to when David, his assistant Jane (
Anne Marie DeLuise
Anne Marie DeLuise () is a Canadian actress.
Career
DeLuise has had a number of supporting roles in film and television. Her most notable roles are Dr. Greene in ''Fifty Shades of Grey'' and Mrs. Briggs on ''Strange Empire'', a role which won h ...
) and two other researchers tranquilize a
polar bear
The polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the largest extant bear specie ...
, then discover the frozen remains of a
wooly mammoth
Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool.
As an ...
.
They transport the
polar bear
The polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the largest extant bear specie ...
to their research station. David calls his daughter Evelyn (
Martha MacIsaac
Martha MacIsaac (born October 11, 1984) is a Canadian actress. She has appeared in several feature films, including '' Superbad'' (2007), ''The Last House on the Left'' (2009), ''Dead Before Dawn'' (2012), and, most recently, ''Battle of the Sex ...
) and pleads with her to visit the research station. Their relationship has been strained since the recent death of her mother. Meanwhile, a group of students, Ling (
Steph Song
Steph Song () is a Malaysian actress of Malaysian Chinese, Chinese heritage, raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and Australia. She was voted sexiest woman in the world by Asian readers of ''FHM'' magazine. Song has received five Leo Aw ...
), Federico (
Kyle Schmid
Kyle Schmid (born August 3, 1984) is a Canadian actor, best known for his roles as Alex Caulder in History's ''Six'', Henry Durham in Syfy's '' Being Human'', Robert Morehouse in BBC America's ''Copper'' and Aaron Abbot in '' The Covenant'' (2006) ...
) and Atom (
Aaron Ashmore
Aaron Richard Ashmore (born October 7, 1979) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his roles on American television series such as Jimmy Olsen on ''Smallville'', Steve Jinks on '' Warehouse 13'' and Johnny Jaqobis on the Canadian television series ...
), are selected to join David's research team; Evelyn decides to come.
Days later, David's research team begins feeling the effects of a strange illness, and David tells helicopter pilot Bart not to bring his daughter Evelyn to the station. However, Evelyn insists, leaving Bart no choice but to bring her to the station along with the students. In the meantime, Jane shoots and apparently kills David and another researcher. The students discover the body of the
polar bear
The polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the largest extant bear specie ...
, and Bart is bitten by a bug while touching it.
Evelyn is awakened in the middle of the night by an
all-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike, or simply a quad, as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is stra ...
approaching the station. When Evelyn goes to investigate, she discovers Jane in the helicopter. Jane has destroyed the helicopter's control panel, eliminating any immediate chance of escape. Ling wakes up with many bug bites on her face and torso, and Jane dies in Evelyn's arms. Realizing Ling is sick, Federico calls in a helicopter to rescue Ling.
Attempting to find David, Evelyn and Atom discover eggs in the brain of the mammoth. Assuming her father has been infected, Evelyn and Atom deduce that something has made the group sick. Evelyn decides to cancel the rescue helicopter and quarantine the group until a better-prepared team can rescue them. Federico, discovering he too is infected, goes berserk and destroys the radio.
The bite on Bart's arm is infected and he has Atom and Evelyn amputate his arm at the elbow. The group decides to destroy the facility and wait things out in the helicopter. Ling is attacked by bugs who have made their way in through the ventilation system. Bart discovers that the amputation was useless as his upper arm is now showing signs of infection; he opts to stay behind with Ling. They deliberately overdose on
morphine
Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a analgesic, pain medication, and is also commonly used recreational drug, recreationally, or to make ...
and fall asleep as the bugs swarm over them.
Federico comes running out, refusing to be checked for infection, then turns on Evelyn and Atom. As he is about to shoot Evelyn, he is shot from behind by David. David insists they destroy the research station. Evelyn finds a video David recorded and discovers that David has intentionally infected himself, preparing to set the bugs loose to teach humanity a lesson about
global warming
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
's effects.
As a rescue helicopter comes to pick up David, Evelyn and Atom are locked up by David, but they escape. Atom grabs one of the helicopter’s skids to attempt to make the helicopter land, but falls to the ground after being shaken off by the pilot’s attempts to stabilise it, falling to the ground and becoming mortally injured. As the helicopter starts flying away, Evelyn shoots at it, causing it to crash into a building previously doused in gasoline. David and the helicopter crew die in the resulting fire; Evelyn finds Atom, who dies in her arms.
The following day another rescue team arrives, finding the destruction and Evelyn, the sole survivor. Later, as a radio station airs information based on Evelyn's reports, a hunter calls his dog away from a dead bird the dog has been eating. Bugs emerge from the bird's body, which was infected from eating the mammoth. The closing scene shows the hunter's truck heading towards a large city.
Cast
*
Martha MacIsaac
Martha MacIsaac (born October 11, 1984) is a Canadian actress. She has appeared in several feature films, including '' Superbad'' (2007), ''The Last House on the Left'' (2009), ''Dead Before Dawn'' (2012), and, most recently, ''Battle of the Sex ...
as Evelyn, Dr. Krupien's daughter
*
Aaron Ashmore
Aaron Richard Ashmore (born October 7, 1979) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his roles on American television series such as Jimmy Olsen on ''Smallville'', Steve Jinks on '' Warehouse 13'' and Johnny Jaqobis on the Canadian television series ...
as Atom, a student, Evelyn's love interest
*
Kyle Schmid
Kyle Schmid (born August 3, 1984) is a Canadian actor, best known for his roles as Alex Caulder in History's ''Six'', Henry Durham in Syfy's '' Being Human'', Robert Morehouse in BBC America's ''Copper'' and Aaron Abbot in '' The Covenant'' (2006) ...
as Federico, a student with a severe phobia of insects
*
Steph Song
Steph Song () is a Malaysian actress of Malaysian Chinese, Chinese heritage, raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and Australia. She was voted sexiest woman in the world by Asian readers of ''FHM'' magazine. Song has received five Leo Aw ...
as Ling, a smart, assertive student who is trying to dispel rumors of her promiscuity
*
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer (born December 31, 1959) is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer found fame after appearances in comedy films, starting with ''Top Secret!'' (1984) and ''Real Genius'' (1985), as well as the military action film ...
as Dr. Kruipen, the leader of the expedition
*Viv Leacock as Bart, as a helicopter pilot & Dr. Kruipen's friend.
*
Anne Marie Loder
Anne Marie DeLuise () is a Canadian actress.
Career
DeLuise has had a number of supporting roles in film and television. Her most notable roles are Dr. Greene in ''Fifty Shades of Grey (film), Fifty Shades of Grey'' and Mrs. Briggs on ''Strange ...
as Jane
*John Callander as Edward, Dr. Kruipen's co-worker
*Lamech Kadloo as Nuti, Dr. Kruipen's co-worker
*Sebastian Gacki as Chad, Evelyn's friend
*Alejandro Rae as Rob, Bart's co-worker
Reception
The film has received generally poor reviews. Scott "Foywonder" Foy of
Dread Central
Dread Central is an American website founded in 2006 that is dedicated to horror news, interviews, and reviews. It covers horror films, comics, novels, and toys. Dread Central has won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Website f ...
gave the film 2 out of 5 knives, claiming it "appears to borrow a tremendous amount of its plot from ''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation ...
''. There was a good movie here that lost its way."
See also
*"
Ice
Ice is water frozen into a solid state, typically forming at or below temperatures of 0 degrees Celsius or Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaq ...
", the eighth episode of ''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation ...
'', also dealing with a deadly parasite unleashed on an Arctic research station.
*Series 1 of "
Fortitude", the Sky Atlantic thriller, dealt with a similar theme of deadly, prehistoric bugs being released from the remains of a frozen mammoth.
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thaw, The
2009 horror films
Canadian science fiction horror films
2009 films
Eco-terrorism in fiction
2000s science fiction horror films
Brightlight Pictures films
Fictional parasites and parasitoids
Canadian natural horror films
Films set in the Arctic
Climate change films
2000s English-language films
2000s Canadian films