THE LAST WINTER

* * ½

STARRING: Ron Perlman, James Le Gros, Connie Britton, Zachary Gilford

2006, 101 Minutes, Directed by: Larry Fessenden

In this supernatural-themed thriller a remote Alaskan outpost owned by a major oil company is haunted and its personnel are killed off either by the ghosts of ancient creatures — or by nature itself. Or both. It is a bit difficult to tell from the confused screenplay.

The film wears its eco credentials proudly on its sleeve, but there isn’t a lot of science in it unfortunately. Global warming seems to have somehow released the malignant spirits of ancient creatures that attack the oil company employees. And when the movie ends there are more extreme weather conditions that cause the same sort of “End of the World As We Know It” havoc we saw unleashed towards the end of the first Resident Evil movie.

There are lots of slow-burner supernatural things in the Event Horizon vein happening with the beleaguered station personnel, slowly going insane one by one (we are however spared the excessive gore of Event Horizon). Towards the end some Raiders of the Lost Ark-like CGI creatures make their appearance, but their presence just undermines the film’s belief that Mother Nature has sufficient cause to want to get rid of humanity. The movie could have done better without them.

The cast of unknowns is headed by Ron Perlman of Hellboy fame and acquits themselves admirably. (Perlman incidentally is not the hero of the piece.) The widescreen photography and production designs will remind viewers of the much-superior The Thing. Slow to start the movie picks up after the first thirty minutes or so and boasts at least one genuine spine-tingling moment.

Impatient horror viewers looking for a quick blood and gore fix will however be disappointed and those looking for a smart cautionary sci-fi eco thriller will be baffled at what is a bit of a wasted opportunity when one thinks about it . . .

(As yet this title is only available on Region 2 DVD from the UK. Click here to buy it.)