Cold Prey Trilogy (Films from Norway)

Cold Prey (2006)

So… what can I say about these films? How do I start? There are so many ways to do it!

This is probably the Norwegian answer to I know What You Did Last Summer (1997). Almost ten years later, but a response nonetheless!

Needless to say, this is a slasher horror film!

I’ll have you know that the first instalment of the trilogy is very good, the second is just not good and the third really sucks. That’s my point of view!

For those who only consume this kind of films, obviously it will be predictable! Maybe even too much !!!
Even if that remains to be proven…

People will think of Freddy or Friday 13, as well as Scream, of course! For them, it’s nothing new… but that’s OK: it’s still quite entertaining and less cheap than many other films in the genre, or at least it’s less noticeable. All in all, it’s quite a success and I could well imagine sequels.

Unpredictable, it will be for those who are watching this kind of slasher film for the first time or who are always surprised as a very good audience. It follows the ‘How to make a horror film for teenagers’ guide. The only big novelty on its release was that it didn’t come from the USA.

This film is quite simply the best of the trilogy! I think if I come across it again one evening or afternoon, I’ll watch it again. Sometimes I just can’t help myself with certain feature films.
Although it is classified as a horror film, many of the bloody scenes were shot in broad daylight. At the beginning of the film, we wait at least thirty minutes for something to happen. But it’s precisely those thirty minutes that are the most precious, because the suspense is built up subtly and carefully.

Personally, I find that it’s not the blood, the violence or the scary moments that make these films strong, but their atmosphere. I highly recommend it!

Cold Prey 2 is also recommendable, but not necessary. It finishes what was left unfinished in the first film.

I read this review: “I wasn’t particularly impressed. There’s a dark/oppressive atmosphere at times, but it’s not enough. The Nordics have already done better with ‘Dead Snow’ ;-). And the ultimate in abandoned hotel/snow/horror remains the masterpiece ‘Shining’!” So, I don’t know if I’ve seen Dead Snow yet. I will if it’s not already in my review pile.

Fortunately, I saw a slightly less jaded review that said: “Brilliant film!
There are few films that have scared me so much. Very good!” This enthusiasm makes me happy!

Here’s another: “My opinion: I’ve already seen this film at least 5 times, and I’ve never been bored. I think it’s brilliant.” You bet! I could say the same thing about Scream and I know What You Did Last Summer.

One hilarious comment is, ‘Why has my comment been deleted?’
We’ll probably never know! Anyway.

You may not find Cold Prey particularly great. It’s just another typical horror film in which people are slaughtered, often for no reason. We don’t really understand why these psychopaths do it… and that can make these franchises a little overrated…

But that doesn’t stop the atmosphere from being chilling! And not just because of the mountainous setting. You really notice that the Norwegians come from cold regions.

Another review: “I really enjoyed the film. I wasn’t bored for a single second during the 93 minutes. I highly recommend this (typical) Norwegian slasher to anyone who wants to see something other than the typical American slasher! I think the film could have been a lot worse.”

What? How typical??
And wait… no knives in the kitchen? No solid wood or steel weapons? Well, don’t defend yourselves, teenagers! It’s true, these kids do everything wrong here. They let each other down, they don’t help each other, but they still smile from time to time. They all act like complete idiots. We were all young once, we know what it’s like! Those who don’t dare admit it simply have short memories.

All that doesn’t stop the actors from being really great and serious in their roles. You absolutely have to put your brain on standby, because people here ALWAYS behave in extreme ways.

In conclusion:

‘Your world is the mountains!’

You’re likely to get a chill watching Cold Prey, a slasher that has nothing to envy from American films. A good, dense and oppressive atmosphere, captivating and experienced direction. Nothing new, but a solid genre film. Not too bloody. The murderer’s past is a little too hazy, making his actions hard to understand.

As always: predictable if you’re watching it with friends in broad daylight after swimming and eating a barbecue, but unpredictable if you’re watching it alone, at night, after a trying day when you’ve lost your skis in a storm!

We can also shorten it: predictable when you’re bragging in front of people who are listening to you or reading you, unpredictable when you’re watching it alone, with the lights off.

Cold Prey 2 – Resurrection (2008)

Original title : Fritt Vilt II

The pickaxe killer returns in this second instalment of a surprise hit in Norwegian horror cinema!

It’s inevitably less chilling than the first, because it’s less original, even if the setting changes (from a hotel to a hospital). Having seen the first film is essential for understanding the story. It’s still a bit creepy, but it’s less of a surprise. The atmosphere is less stifling, but still a little scary. The director does, however, play very skilfully with the sounds that add anguish to the film. So it’s less original, since the killer uses the same weapon (except at the beginning). There’s still no abuse of the haemoglobin, but the atmosphere isn’t as gripping.

It’s a bit of a disappointment when the first one was really great.
I wish I could say that this is a sequel of the same calibre as the original. The direction is masterful and the atmosphere oppressive, but the storylines are so thick that it’s impossible to be surprised by the phoned-in, cartoonish sequence of events. The film at least has the merit of deepening the universe of the licence by revealing part of the assassin’s past.

The first one was really good, despite a big lack of weight and freshness (no pun intended), but this sequel isn’t a must-see. While the direction is inventive and masterful, and the actors not bad on the whole, the film never really takes off, despite a rather successful atmosphere.

The dialogue is extremely flat… not to mention the emotional moments with the piano in the background and the scenes of American-style heroism, which give it very little charm or originality.

A logical sequel to the first opus, with a script that tries to be innovative, but smacks of déjà vu and is full of clichéd scenes and no ideas, minus the element of surprise. This second opus will probably remain a success and will delight fans of the genre in this icy setting!

If, on the other hand, you’re not a big fan of films in this genre, avoid this one!

This second instalment is fairly dispensable, veering at times into the grotesque and the improbable, to the point of being irritating at times.

Not as good as the first, the film is less frightening and the script not quite polished enough, but the atmosphere is a little darker.

Warning: Spoilers Alert!!!

Not a bad moment, because the codes of the effective slasher are respected to the letter. Not a great moment either. It’s a conventional sequel, a bit like ‘The Descent 2’, where most of the characters aren’t developed, just good enough to be massacred on the assembly line, with a final scene where the heroine reveals her bestial side, isn’t afraid of anything any more, has lived through everything and kills the hideous villain. The ultimate warm-up, but the film is still pretty good. It’s the next and final film in the trilogy that’s a disaster…

Cold Prey 3 (2010)

Original title : Fritt Vilt III

A prequel???

“This new opus takes us back in horror to the killer’s origins, where it all began. This time, there will be no survivors…”

Of course! If it’s a prequel, we know the killer will survive!
But why make prequels for lesser-known franchises? For lack of ideas? Because the killer dies at the end of the second opus and we don’t know what else to do?

As with all reboots, you can watch this one first. But you’re in for quite a change of pace and quality! Because the first is still the best, and although the second finishes what was started, the film started by Roar Uthaug is still the most essential.

In the 1980s, in an isolated mountain hotel, a teenager and his parents are found dead in strange circumstances. Twelve years later, with the building abandoned, a group of young people decide to explore the hotel, far from suspecting that a fearsome killer is lurking there…

This time, it’s not even average enough! This third opus is rather slow on the whole, and the charisma of the killer and the heroine are nothing like those of the previous two episodes. What a shame!

This comment made me smile: “The film of eternal night! It’s annoying to watch the film while squinting or wearing night vision goggles! And otherwise: bogus script and zero interest. Skip it!!!”

A third opus that serves no purpose. The first two were nice compared to this one. They had tension, suspense and emotion, but this time it’s a bunch of really stupid teenagers who get killed (as always) one after the other, along with a doddering hermit and a creepy policeman (the latter two being really creepy).

Between the repeated flashbacks, which make it hard to understand the story, and the killer, who has no charisma whatsoever here, we’re treated to a run-of-the-mill slasher of young people getting whacked. The second was better, in my opinion, and the first is my favourite. This one is a prequel to continue to fill the cash drawer thanks to a franchise that undoubtedly did well. Yes, it’s a familiar refrain!

Terribly dull, not a great cast and a pointless story, this film is a real dud.

To sum up:

This time, there’s no point!

After two enjoyable episodes, this final instalment in the trilogy is a real disappointment. The film goes off in all directions and is totally lacking in logic.

Yes… it’s about time it came to an end!