After making an another huge impression as Seth Brundle in “The Fly”, Jeff Goldblum returns to the world of horror as the Devil himself in “Mister Frost”. Where “The Fly” was gruesome and packed with violence, “Mister Frost” is a slow, meditative exploration of true evil. Story and narrative are the primary focus with brief moments of mild violence sprinkled in for good measure. A difficult film to find due to never being transferred to DVD for wide release, “Mister Frost” does enjoy its status as a cult favorite.
Jeff Goldblum really gets to shine as Mr. Frost. While his unique style speech is present, Frost does spend a good deal of the film silent, which allows Goldblum’s physical mannerisms a chance to take center stage. It’s fun seeing Goldblum chewing the scene without saying a single word, proving once again that he is a master thespian. The Frost character himself is a unique character and I’m so impressed that the film allows the time a space for him to fully explored. The movie begins with a police detective coming by to ask about a missing person. After a quirky visit to the kitchen, Frost happily and honestly tells the detective that the missing persons, and others, are buried in the back yard. Twenty-four bodies are found, all killed violently while some are horribly mutilated. From young to old, Frost had killed indiscriminately.
Kathy Baker plays Dr. Sarah Day, the only psychiatrist at the asylum that Frost will talk to. Her character is complex and complicated even before Frost enters her life. Dr. Reynhardt, the lead psychiatrist, talks down to her and tries to use her as a puppet as she works with Frost. When she tries to stand up for herself and her professional capabilities, the arrogant Reynhardt tells her that this case is to difficult and important for someone like her to take on. It's only after repeated attempts and repeated failures to get Frost to respond to him does Reynhardt acquiesce to Frost's original request to work with Dr. Day. Frost is always in control of the conversations, driving the topic at his whim. When he declares that he is the Devil, Dr. Day's life is turned upside down and will never be the same.
Alan Bates plays Felix Dertwiler, a former police detective who was the one responsible for discovering that Mr. Frost was a mass murderer. His obsession with Frost and his victims is his undoing, causing him to lose his job and more, and yet he continued to study and learn more about him, warning the staff at the new asylum that Frost has been transferred to. Mr. Bates retains a grounded performance while being passionate about his nemesis. His scenes with Dr. Sarah Day feel a bit too muddled down and slow at parts. Their relationship, that becomes romantic in nature as the movie moves along, feels more natural than most films that tend to rush and force such relationships.
"Mr. Frost" was directed by French director Philip Setbon. There is no hiding that this film feels very European; more style and substance than traditional horror. The melodrama feels like akin to the British ghost story movies of the past. Some may not consider "Mr. Frost" as a true horror movie but that doesn't change the fact the it scared and sent chills down my spine when I first saw it as a young teen.
No comments:
Post a Comment