Against the Ice Review

Against the Ice is based on a true story of Denmark's 1909 polar expedition. Recently released on Netflix, we follow two men who are fighting for there lives to survive the horrid conditions of the Arctic. They are on this expedition to search for a lost map in Greenland.

What I liked about this film was the brilliant performances from Nikolaj Coster Waldau who plays the Captain, and Joe Cole who plays Iver Iverson. You may have seen these two actors before. Nikolaj played Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, and Joe played John Shelby in Peaky Blinders. We see the toll it takes on them and the things they have to do to survive. Especially mentally, where they struggle to keep themselves together. The way the two main actors perform throughout is outstanding, because they carry the film and keep it interesting enough for the viewer to keep on watching. The mood of the film is perfect throughout, its gritty and gets dark at times. What really stood out to me was the costumes designs. I liked this because usually the costumes look too clean in films, but these looked well worn. I know this might seem odd, but if the clothing looks too clean in survival films, then it takes me out.

The negatives I have about this film is that there was not enough action, and there was no real shocks. I put this as a negative because the film relies on the performances of the two actors. Even though it did work in my opinion, other people may find it bland and hard to get through. I know this is a survival film, but I would have liked to have more scenes that caught me off guard. I could predict throughout what was going to happen next, which can make this film a bit of a slog if you rely on shock value and action scenes to keep you engaged.

This is one of them films that you can only watch once. The story is interesting and the performances in this film is very good, but that might not be enough for some people. I can see why this film has mixed reviews, and it may not be for everyone. But if you are interested in history and especially the 1909 polar expedition, than you will find this film interesting and engaging.

Verdict - 6/10

Against the Ice is a interesting watch and is worth checking out if you like survival films. Even though there is not much going on throughout, the performances by Nikolaj Coster Waldau and Joe Cole are brilliant. It does just about enough to keep you engaged. I would recommend this to anyone who likes true stories, but I warn you it's not for everyone.