Whiteout - 3.5/5

Here it is almost two days after watching "Whiteout" and I still am not sure how I felt about the film. I liked it, but it definitely wasn't something that blew me away like an Antarctic storm. It had potential with some solid moments, but ended up leaving me a bit cold (pun intended). Overall, it wasn't a bad film at all, but "Whiteout" definitely wasn't all that impressive either.

Beckinsale plays Statko, our heroine US Marshal posted in the middle of Antarctica (literally) and just days before her time is up, she gets caught investigating the sudden appearance of one frozen dead guy in the middle of nowhere. Of course, as with most Thrillers, there is a killer on the loose in the base and she is limited on time to solve the case and get the fuck out before a massive storm hits.

Thusly, this is a pretty average Thriller tale just in a new setting. We get a few nice plot points that occur due to its setting, but overall this film could have taken place most anywhere when you break it down. Which is somewhat of a bummer if you ask me. I was hoping for something a little more unique to come from this film and I never really got it. It has moments that make it stand out (dealing with frostbite, isolation from outside, and general fun with tools and dangers of living in the ice) but it doesn't do enough to make it really worth an intense viewing.

Despite some valiant attempts with solid acting, most of the characters are left hanging too. We only get bits of our main lady, and some of the other larger characters, Doc, the pilot, our boy from the UN, are left severely grasping for some backstory to use. It's a good 'in the moment' work, but lacks a little bit of the depth it could have used.

Not to mention with its lack of real deep character work, it kind of creates an ending that is extraordinarily lack luster. I won't give too much away, but really, without the depth the ending tends to come out of the blue and just slowly collapse on itself in a weird and quiet way. Particularly since a massive action sequence with a fight in the middle of the storm takes place only minutes prior. It just felt oddly paced and somewhat of a let down.

"Whiteout" wasn't bad by any means, but it certainly had mediocre down pat. The acting was good for the somewhat bones script and visually it has some nice moments, but it could have just gone farther on a lot of levels. Not a 'run out and buy film' but a solid rental for a free night. 

Written By Matt Reifschneider