As far as sub-zero survival films go, it’s hard to find many faults with Joe Penna’s Arctic. It’s a good film that fits nicely within its genre but that in itself is part of its problem. Other than an unconventional introduction, Arctic doesn’t define itself. It should have no problem fulfilling an evening’s quota for drama and tension, but shortly after, you may already confuse it with other films of a similar ilk.
I have a soft-spot for survival films and I don’t mind saying it. With this in mind, and despite its right-on-cue beats and tropes, Arctic is a quality addition to the genre. Mads Mikkelsen delivers a near-silent performance as he carries out the grueling daily tasks necessary to stave off death for another day. When he’s unexpectedly joined by the victim of another crash, his situation turns even more dire than it was before. It’s at this point that Arctic takes its turn for the conventional.
In a refreshing twist, the first third of the film offers no backstory, no harrowing plane crash, and no sentimental clutching of family photographs. It plays more like a procedural on how to survive in isolated, frigid conditions. It’s routine and repetitive, but it’s also interesting as hell. When the second character is introduced, all the missing genre conventions that made Arctic unique come flooding in. Shortly after, the expected trek across the ice is undertaken, and several more of the usual chestnuts are introduced.
None of this is to say that I didn’t enjoy the film. It may not transcend its genre, but Arctic is still an old-fashioned nail-biter. The eerie beauty of the frozen landscape paints a serene yet deadly picture as the ice and snow seep right into your skin and bones. Mikkelsen seems right at home in his ever-increasing desperation and Maria Thelma Smáradóttird (who never utters a word or moves of her own volition) is wonderful, in all her immobility, as his motivation and potential downfall. Turn up the heat in your house and enjoy.
James is a writer, skateboarder, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.