Snow Blinded review
A man’s total descent into beautiful madness. Snow Blinded‘s freezing grip grabs hold of you and never lets you go.
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Snow Blinded
Directed by Brian Lockyer
Screenplay by Brian Lockyer
Starring Michael Masurkevitch, Mandip Brar, John Settle, Jack Hunter and Clara Lockyer
Snow Blinded Review
More movies should be set in the snow. That’s a thought that I had several times while watching Snow Blinded. Not only is it a perfect setting for a story about isolation and creeping madness but it also provides a ton of natural production value. A lot of movies take a wooded setting. They often feel trapped by their singular location. The frozen ground of Snow Blinded instead feels trapped in it. There’s a big difference. The former gives the impression that little interesting will happen. The latter feels like a big bonus. Anyone who lives in a chilly climate can feel the woods in Snow Blinded. It’s an aesthetic that money probably can buy…but also doesn’t need to. Don’t mistake it, the story and performances in Snow Blinded would work without the frozen ground. It’s just that much better with it.
Shawn (Michael Masurkevitch) and his friend Manny (Mandip Brar) arrive at a family cabin for a weekend getaway. Manny is seriously injured as they explore the snow-covered woods. Attempts to transport Manny prove difficult…and worse, they can’t seem to find the way out. If that wasn’t enough…Shawn is seeing impossible things. Every step seemingly taking him farther from a way out and closer to madness.
Snow Blinded largely doles out daylight horror. It’s a great choice as it highlights the excellent scenery available. After all, it’s not nightfall that makes Shawn and Manny’s situation scary. The inability to leave does. Trapped by darkness is a particular type of fright. Being lost when you should be able to find the way out creates a different kind of fear. Frustration quickly turns to panic. Panic becomes certainty that something strange and unknowable is going on.
The clues that this will not be a happy trek through the forest are on display early in Snow Blinded. Shawn sees visions of family members who haven’t been to the cabin in years. He misremembers events. He has déjà vu about things that didn’t happen. It’s a fascinating concept to look back on once the movie has ended. Once you see Shawn’s full journey…every aspect of what you’ve watched will demand a second viewing.
If the idea of watching someone lose their minds twice doesn’t sound like your cup of tea…you’re in for a pleasant surprise. That’s exactly what I wanted to do when the credits rolled. Thanks in large part to the committed performance from Masurkevitch as Shawn. His go for broke dedication to exploring complete hysteria is something to behold. What begins as a happy time ends in a total frenzy of uncontrollable insanity. A fully realized portrayal of a desperate, demented man.
Snow Blinded eases us into its frozen madhouse. A whisper here, a vision of something there. The growing desperation of their situation and thwarted escape attempts that defy the laws of reality inevitably driving Shawn to the brink…taking us with him. By the time we arrive at the third act…we think we’re prepared for the worst. That’s when Snow Blinded unleashes the full force of its insanity. I wasn’t prepared for the lengths the film goes to in its pursuit of pure, unadulterated wildness. I mean that in the best way possible. Things get bloody. Things get dark. It’s glorious.
The final act of Snow Blinded is strong enough to hang the entire movie on. What separates it from many films with similar wild finishes is its strong, confident build. The journey from happy to disoriented to stark-raving mad is earned and effective. Shawn may seem isolated for large parts of the story…but he is constantly accompanied by visions of events from his past…and a man in a gray hat. He’s in an impossible place with a race against time to save his friend. It’s a constantly intriguing, consistently surprising time in a gorgeously snow-covered woodland.
Scare Value
Snow Blinded‘s commitment to plunging its main character into total madness is impressive. Masurkevitch’s commitment to portraying it is captivating. The setting provides a perfect backdrop for a story of hopelessness and confusion. Everything flows to a wild final act that lets loose with a parade of raw, bloody moments. Once you find yourself in Snow Blinded‘s frozen woods…you may find it hard to leave..
4/5
Snow Blinded Trailer
If you enjoyed this review of Snow Blinded, check out Brightwood.
