Like most film genres horror may have started here in the States but it didn’t take long for other countries to adopt it and add flourishes that would lend their own unique slant. With the Japanese they typically go for a more psychological approach towards horror. The Germans have mastered the dark and twisted Gothic look and feel. With the Italians there is a more visual approach used too scare the wits out of people. Now there is another country entering into the fray, Norway. While at the present time you don’t hear the phrase ‘lets go see that new Norwegian horror flick’ uttered by horror aficionados. If the movie ‘Cold Prey’ by Roar Uthaug is any indication this phrase may soon be a common part of our vernacular. The film has a way to go until it raise to the level of the other national efforts but this film represents a solid piece of terror and is pointing the way towards the right direction. One of the biggest problems that a film maker encounters with a horror film is creating the sense of impending doom. This is typical achieved by isolating the potential victims far away from any possible source of assistance. In the far northern reaches of Norway this is fairly easy to get. The cast and crew are still in the experimental phase of this genre and that in itself gives the movie a fresh and exciting slant. While there are aspects of the production that are too reminiscent of previously made flicks this is an honest try and works in its intended purposes of providing a good old fashion scare. The film had a release in its native Norway and now, after a couple of years, found its way to our shores. The DVD release is through Starz / Anchor Bay. The have been leading the way with Indy flicks that deserve a wider audience then they would normally receive and this one certainly meets that criteria. This movie is perfect for a stormy night at home.

The story was written by Uthaug and Thomas Moldestad. Before this script Moldestad had a couple of shorts and a documentary to his credit. He has since branched out to other types of stories including comedy and drama. Uthaug had a couple of short scripts prior to this but ‘Cold Prey’ his is entry to feature films as both director and writer. Together the men craft a better than average horror thriller. They give the development of the characters much more attention than is typically afforded for a slasher story. All too often the writers just plop the characters into the story with no firm reason for them being there except to get hacked apart by the fiend at hand. There are elements of the story that many will see as hackney. There are always young couples composed of virile guys and beautiful young women. They are usually out in the middle of nowhere ostensibly for some sport but we all know it’s for sex and partying. In order for a movie of this format to work the audience has to care about the ever dwindling group members. Uthaug and Moldested care sufficient care to give the characters more depth than usual. They do come across as individuals instead of the cookie cutter victims we have seen time and time again. There are some staples of the genre that it is difficult to get away from. Many things are so coincidental that it strains the ability of the audience to suspend belief. The kids find a deserted house or shack of some sort; just right for their planned activities. This usually leads to the plot device that their previous arrangements fell through until this timely discovery that seemingly saves the day. Of course if some demented, lonely serial killer didn’t live around there the story would be very short and dull. While these elements are old they are still around because they work in setting the eerie mood and provide a modicum of situational motivation. In the case where the authors are under constraint with clichés this pair try their best to embrace it. Part of the fun of a slasher flick is that you know exactly what is about to happen. You shout at the young person about to be killed trying to warn them about the impending, bloody doom.

This feeling caries over to Uthaug’s direction; he seems to be having fun playing with the established format. His style is fairly straightforward without the usual tricks of lighting and camera work that often seduce a new director. One thing that he has working for him is the extremely gorgeous scenery that his home land provides. It is a mixture of natural beauty and stark isolation that gives a unique backdrop for the story. Uthaug hasn’t forgotten why people go to flicks like this. There is plenty of bloodshed to go around. The killer is one that subscribes to the old school pick ax technique but is versatile enough to branch out into other forms of gruesome mayhem. Uthaug has a talented eye for framing and lighting a scene perfectly. He coaxes out the most of what has become a routine story line. Also a large part of what works here is the professionalism of the cast. They are actors who are capable of mining nuance out of their roles that many of our domestic actors lack.

A group of five friends decide to go off to a remote region in order to enjoy a little freestyle snowboarding libidinous apres ski. Morten Tobias (Rolf Kristian Larsen) feels a little like a fifth wheel in the group since he is the only member of the group not hooked up. The other four are couples. Mikael (Endre Martin Midtstigen) is the over sex alpha male of the group and he brought his most recent conquest Ingunn (Viktoria Winge). Jannicke (Ingrid Bolso Berdal) and Eirik (Tomas Alf Larsen) has been a couple for awhile and are established in their relationship. Since they greatly dislike the usual tourist haunts they set out to a remote place that has some of the best slopes in the area. Okay, a bunch of young people out in the middle of nowhere, nothing bad ever happens under these circumstances. It looks like the fun will come to a premature end when Tobias breaks his leg. Wanting to get to shelter as soon as possible they come across a hotel. It is apparently deserted so they start to make themselves comfortable. After a little ad hoc first aide the couples pair off. Unknown to them someone is lurking outside and has been watching them closely. His intentions for the intruders are not going to be pretty.

You most likely never considered Norwegian horror but broaden your horizons and give this movie a chance. It is not only helping to blaze a new trail for the genre it simply put holds together as one of the better horror movies I have come across in a very long time.