Edge of Winter (2016)

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

The setup of the story for the fathers downward spiral was reasonably done and one many part time fathers will identify with. Time was taken to show the relationship between the father and sons which means the climax feels a little rushed. Acting performances are good but some parts of the plot line are baffling. Like when the cabin is burned down so they can escape. Surely a stealthy escape would have given them more time? No movie is perfect and after seeing the reviews I wasn't expecting too much but despite the faults this was time well spent and a nice change from the blockbuster movie norm.

This is a pretty good movie that manages to keep you tense and invested in the characters' outcomes the whole time. It's a slow burn, but watching the tension build and the emotions come to a head are what give this movie it's edge. Tom Holland's performance is exceptional (even though the lines they give him are often mediocre) and you can really see what the character is thinking play out on his face. As he starts to realize his father is unstable Holland really comes into his element and some of the best shots in the movie are when he let's his face and body language do the talking. The overall script could have been better, and it's not the best movie out there, but it is worth watching and it was an enjoyable experience that left me thinking. Would recommend it.

The acting was superb. The plot was vague at times but I found that intriguing and it added to the suspense as it didn't follow a typical psycho killer format. There were clues in the plot that give possible answers to most of the questions as to why a poor example of a father could deteriorate into a delusional killer so quickly and I liked the ambiguity of that. The camera work was quite nice too. The location as desolate as the emotions, but still beautiful. Remarkable work by the two boys. Mr. Kinnamen's character so painful to watch. Frightening but believable. Well worth the watch, for an intimate look at failed parenting and trauma.

No idea why people are harshing on this movie. Yes, the plot is simple, but that's because it's not a horror flick or action flick - - it's a psychological family drama thriller. As in, tense.There's beautiful scenery, minimal music, and other than a few scenes (not going to spoil that), most of what happens is fairly straightforward. Joel Kinnaman, looking a bit haggard, (the delicious co-star of The Killing) delivers top-notch acting, as do both of the boys. Their relationship and interaction is believable, and thankfully, there isn't any annoying precociousness or preciousness in the kid's characters. I'm not sure what people were expecting from the movie, but after reading some of the reviews/comments, I watched it anyway, and I wasn't disappointed. If you're looking for something with a lot of violence or gore, or some feel-good story with a dramatic ending, this isn't the film for you. If you are looking for a somewhat bleak story line with great acting, then check it out.