...a refreshingly adult horror effort that boasts a pair of phenomenal lead performances.
Wind Chill (2007)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:25
Fresh:12
Rotten:13
Average Rating:5.1/10
Consensus: Wind Chill is a ghost story with a clunky and unpolished script that fails to keep viewers in suspense.
Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
US Box Office: $0
Synopsis: WIND CHILL takes the conventions of the haunted house film and transplants them to a dangerous stretch of road where the unfortunate victims of prior events haunt those unwise enough to drive on... WIND CHILL takes the conventions of the haunted house film and transplants them to a dangerous stretch of road where the unfortunate victims of prior events haunt those unwise enough to drive on it. Director Greg Jacobs's film is the tale of an unnamed young student (Emily Blunt) at a Northeastern College in need of a ride home to Delaware for Christmas break. Deciding to check the ride board, she finds a fellow student (Ashton Holmes, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE) going her way, though an impending blizzard promises to make their ride treacherous. Very early into their journey, he opts for a scenic route, only to be run off the road by a reckless driver. Stuck in the snow, with no cell phone service, the two are forced to get to know each other under the worst circumstances as they learn of the area's frightening history and try to save themselves from perishing in the cold. A sparkling addition to the realm of holiday-themed fright films, WIND CHILL sidesteps gratuitous gore and murderous Santas in favor of chilling images of ghostly figures in a snowy landscape. Creating ample suspense with a story that unfolds largely within a car, director Gregory Jacobs (CRIMINAL) keeps the abrupt jolts to a minimum, relying on mood and a compounding sense of dread. Writers Joseph Gangemi and Steven Katz give us two characters--realized through fine work by Blunt and Holmes--whom we learn to care for as we watch them endure a realistically horrific situation. Claustrophobic, understated, and painted with a snowy glow of cool blue, this is a classy, spooky safe haven from gratuitous gore and hastily made remakes and sequels. Though the name connotes discomfort, WIND CHILL is a more likely to be a breath of fresh air for discriminating genre fans. [More]
Starring: Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes, Martin Donovan, Ned Bellamy
Starring: Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes, Martin Donovan, Ned Bellamy
Director: Greg Jacobs
Director: Greg Jacobs
Screenwriter: Steven Katz, Joe Gangemi
Producer: Graham Broadbent
Composer: Clint Mansell
Studio: Revolution Studios
Reviews for Wind Chill
Imagine a campfire story told by Jack London after downing a bottle of Jack Daniels. The chilly atmosphere would be in full force but the plotting might be a bit punch drunk.
After a great set-up, we're left stranded by the side of the road, wishing the filmmakers had come up with a conclusion at least somewhere close to as good.
At the very least, it's an old-fashioned ghost story with half a brain -- and that's got to be worth more than a casual glance.
The passage to ex-rental DVD bins will be swift for this lethally pretentious bit of low-rent schlock.
Wind Chill suffers from an underdeveloped screenplay, which feels like a first draft, erroneously deemed ready for production.
Wind Chill deserves a merit badge for even trying to tell a horror story without resorting to tired and amateurish shock value. The picture's puzzle might not piece together properly, but the effort is appreciated.
Almost always, you can expect the worst when a studio dumps a film without advance screenings. But the well-crafted thriller Wind Chill, with rising star Emily Blunt, is the very rare case where somebody (in this case, Sony) goofed.
Well before day breaks, it’s the movie’s plot (which would have made for an outstanding Outer Limits episode) that has come to seem stuck in an endless loop.
Despite its failings, Wind Chill represents a road rarely taken by 21st-century American horror films: Original (in the non-remake sense of the term), subtle and restrained.
A tidy little ghost story, with interesting characters, a captivating performance by up-and-comer Emily Blunt.
Wind Chill, for all its flaws, is an often spooky and imaginative ghost story that contains a genuine creepiness.
All surface and no depth, with an incongruous ending that makes for an unsatisfying ending to an indecisive movie.
Latest News for Wind Chill
September 05, 2007:
RT on DVD: It's TV Time!
It's definitely a week for TV on DVD. With the exception of a few exceptional dramatic feature films (Stephanie Daley, The Wind That Shakes the Barley), today's releases offer a... More...
April 28, 2007:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
More...
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 70% 70% | Where the Wild Things Are | 03/12 |
| 83% 83% | Paranormal Activity | 03/12 |
| 89% 89% | Zombieland | 03/12 |
| 77% 77% | The Informant! | 03/12 |
| | The Strength of Water | 03/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Wind Chill at Rotten Tomatoes
- Wind Chill at IGN
- Wind Chill at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection



Top Critic

