The Thaw (2009)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The Thaw (2009) was written and directed by Mark A. Lewis. Spoiler Alert, as I will be talking about the film. There have been other films about odd finds in the frozen north. Here we have a supposedly cautionary tale, about an insect revived after eons, due to the climate change. Literally thawed. The find is documented by Dr Kruipen, played by Val Kilmer, and his assistant Jane Sanders played by Ann Marie Deluise. Both become infected with the new-found parasites. Bad timing, the doctors daughter Evelyn played by Martha MacIsaac joined by a group of students, are on their way to visit to the doctors isolated base.There are some parallels to the superior John Carpenter movie, The Thing (1982) Issues of Quarantine are raised, and the psychology of the infected, also the possibility of a worldwide epidemic outbreak that would cripple civilization. Val Kilmers Dr, wanted to bring the plague to the people to open the worlds eyes to the risks of doing nothing; to stop "Warming". Logic Fail, We have to get infected to avoid getting infected? The politics are hooie, but the story of a new micro organism released back into the world, is not a bad concept. Here it's buggy. Once again bugs provide the gristly and nasty effects. The Helicopter pilot, played by Viv LeaCock bit on the arm, carries the parasites in his wound. he's not the only one in the group infected, Poor Ling played by Steph Song, and her boyfriend Frederico played by Kyle Schmid. The flesh wound effects are not entirely realistic, but they still have a "wince" factor. The production values were fair, nothing more than workable. On the plus side it was well shot, and well lit. The actors were earnest. Martha's character carried the dramatic weight of the film as she discovers her fathers evil plan. Lets give this Seven out of Ten "Who'll survive" Stars.

You know.. Sometimes they have a great idea, good cast, even a budget, and they could have had a great movie, and instead produce a mediocre one. All because of a few tiny mistakes, a couple dumb choices, and boom. A failure. This movie could have been great. It could have been the next Thing. This movie is totally gross. It's totally going to creep you out no matter what. It's totally disgusting. It will turn even a Nurses stomach. ( mine) OK so let's talk about what made it lame. They took away the realism of it by making the actors do really stupid things that no one could ever rationalize away. With movies , we have to believe what we are seeing. When actors do probably the dumbest Things ever , we can't excuse it. I think filmmakers make this mistake , because they are trying to extend the suspense. With this movie they didn't have to do that. Like for instance. The Doctor knows there is a bug infestation. Yet, when the students and his daughter show up at the lab with the infected polar bear, he neglects to tell them anything and doesn't tell them to stay away from the polar bear. Why? Then, for some reason, another doctor shoots everyone because she is obviously dying of the big infestation and drives to the lab and super infects everyone. Just in case they weren't infected yet. This movie really suffered from those dumb ass choices. The graduate students who can't seem to figure anything out either really perturbed me. We of course , figured it all out right away . With as much info as they had. Brilliant graduate students that are as dumb as rocks. Uh huh. How about the mourning scientist girl that just needs to wipe away the green vomit from the ladies mouth? And then even attempt CPR. I think any dimwit or scientist esp would know to stay the hell away from anyone as sick as that as soon as they showed up. Isn't that just every day logic? But then pretty boy with the gun, he just really did the movie in. He was so Dumb, that I think we all just wouldn't have knocked him out asap. And then tied him up. Anyways. If you want to watch what would happen if a bunch of really dumb people found a new species of bug that devoured humans go ahead. It's good for a lot of gross out moments. Anyways.

A transparent flick, environmentalism in the guise of scifi.It is implied that Polar Bears and ice in the Arctic are melting due soley to 0.54% manmade c02 in the atmosphere without any accounts of recent super storm activity blowing warmer air and water into the north. Then the blonde guy from Animorphs advocates eco-terrorism to really drive home his socialist agenda while the chick from Superbad that Michael Cera punches in the boob moans and complains.Val Kilmer's head continues to get wider which incidentally poses more of a threat to the planet by blocking out the sun and causing another ice age.1 star.

This movie has fallen into the same pitfall so many other potentially good horror movies have fallen into. A lack of characters you could careless about. Its hard to care about the plot nor the message being sent if all you want to do it get to the end of the movie asap.Watching idiots making brainless selfish choices maybe realistic but its not what I go to watch for horror movie entertainment. If you want realism you already have it, why pay to see this crap.Its sad to see talent like Val being wasted on this trash, thank god for digital movies for now we can fast forward and skip and whatever else. Real waste of effort making the movie, real waste of time watching it. Dawg gone awful! Although the bugs eating the polar bear was good for a giggle.