Film Review: ‘Cold Weather’ Delivers Genuine Chills, Exudes Warmth

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

CHICAGO – Nothing inspires moviegoers to huddle around the warm glow of their television sets quite like a record-breaking snowstorm. And few films were more tailor-made for a slow-moving snow day than “Cold Weather,” the entrancing new picture from indie filmmaker Aaron Katz, best known for his breakout projects “Dance Party, USA” and “Quiet City.”

Rating: 4.0/5.0

This is the sort of film that Video On Demand was made for. It doesn’t require a big screen or surround sound to fully envelop the audience into its story. Katz’s longtime collaborators, cinematographer Andrew Reed and composer Keegan DeWitt, impeccably set the mood and tone for an overcast Oregon-set noir from the very first frame. The best way to approach this small yet potent gem is to go in cold.

Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “Cold Weather” in our reviews section.

The effortlessly natural Cris Lankenau (star of “Quiet City”) plays Doug, a young slacker who initially fits the profile of many a mumblecore protagonist: single, unemployed, and seemingly aimless. He leaves his internship at a Chicago kitchen for his home in Portland, where he moves in with his sister Gail (the superb Trieste Kelly Dunn). He eventually finds work at an ice factory, where he befriends Carlos (Raúl Castillo), an amiable guy with an affinity for “Star Trek.” There’s an intriguing shot that pans between Doug and Carlos as they stack endless bags of ice while making small talk about everything from their future goals to Sherlock Holmes. As the camera obsessively captures the mindless, mechanical nature of their task, Katz is gradually bringing the audience into the natural rhythms of his characters’ lives, so when the pace eventually speeds up, our pulse follows.

Continue reading for Matt Fagerholm’s full “Cold Weather” review.

Cris Lankenau re-teams with director Aaron Katz in the mystery Cold Weather.
Photo credit: IFC Films