No one wants to go outside and do stuff in the midst of the sci-fi-sounding “polar vortex,” so it’s best to stay in and enjoy the sight of fictional characters despairingly trudge through snow.
Wintery films are particularly satisfying to watch when buried under blankets on the sofa, so check out these five films to get you through the next few days of sub-zero temperatures.
The Hateful Eight
Not one of Tarantino’s most popular films, but a personal favorite of mine, The Hateful Eight pushes together an extremely unlikeable-but-lovable group of strangers in an isolated cabin, engulfed by a fierce blizzard.
Set during the tense period of peace after the Civil War, the characters all represent clashing walks of American life, unpleasant individuals who would rather not be in each other’s company. Eventually, the mismatched group’s cluster of twisted beliefs, prejudices, and mutual mistrust, combine into something very ugly indeed.
The intense blizzard that surrounds the cabin hints at the incoming, inevitable wave of violence. And if anyone knows how to steadily increase tension between groups of strangers and climax in an exceedingly gory bloodbath, it’s Quentin Tarantino.
Snowpiercer
Snowpiercer depicts a bleak, post-apocalyptic future where it is really cold outside, all the time. What’s left of Earth’s population now dwells inside an eternally speeding train, which is class segregated by carriage.
It’s a tremendous “vehicle” for class commentary, and happens to star Captain America himself, Chris Evans, as a determined dissident breaking through the carriages in search of equality.
By seizing the means of locomotion from the ruling class, Evan’s character hopes to forge an equal society onboard the train, but things become seriously strange the closer the rebels move to the engine room.
It’s a stellar action movie in a unique setting, with enough elements of dystopian satire to elevate it beyond a simple brawler.
If you liked Korean zombie-flick Train to Busan, you will most certainly like this.
The Revenant
Nothing is more satisfying than escaping the elements and then watching Leonardo DiCaprio achingly crawl through the snow you just wiped off your boots.
This visually stunning film was filmed on location in the remote wilds of Alberta, Canada, where the cast and crew were regularly punished by the freezing conditions. At one point, production was suspended for five weeks because the low temperature caused the camera equipment to lock together.
And you can feel the raw, unforgiving environment, as Leo’s intense struggle to earn his Oscar genuinely comes across as grueling.
The story and dialogue are sparse and simple, and Leo manages to remain captivating throughout the film, despite having little to work with other than his own suffering.
Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone is an early Jennifer Lawrence gem, one that really displays the extent of her talent.
The film is set in the rough, rural Ozarks, in a tiny community where the main source of income is methamphetamine.
The combination of desperate poverty and frozen landscape create a very bleak atmosphere indeed, and Lawrence’s tough protagonist is impossible not to root for. She’s searching for her no-good father and surrounded by unsavory individuals, all of whom seem to be hiding a terrible secret, or two.
The environment is brutal and depressing, but Lawrence’s determination is inspiring; she’s the sole ray of sunlight in an extremely dark story.
Fargo
All the entries on this list happen to be intensely violent and depressing, which I suppose comes with cold territory, so Fargo might just be a necessary addition, even if it is an oldie.
The Coen brothers surreal slice of Minnesota is a crime thriller that is equally intense and utterly absurd, a film that seems funnier with every viewing.
But at this point, you might have just seen the movie one too many times, and in that case, there’s always Fargo, the television series, which is strangely compelling, far better than it has any right to be.
Whatever you watch, crank up the heating and make sure to order more pizza than you think you can eat. Trust me.
