Product Details

• Actors: Michael Rooker, Blanche Baker
• Directors: James Felix McKenney
• Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: MPI Home Video
• DVD Release Date: October 2, 2012
• Run Time: 72 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B006Z7Z3NG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,169 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Busy character actor Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) provides the main impetus to see Hypothermia, an old-fashioned creature feature about a monster lurking in the depths of a frozen lake. Rooker acquits himself well in his everyman role as a husband and father who takes his family on an ice-fishing vacation; once there, his plans are upset by the arrival of an obnoxious father-son duo, as well as the more disconcerting discovery of an aquatic monster with gastronomic designs on Rooker and company. Produced by Larry (The Last Winter) Fessenden's Glass Eye Pix, which oversaw such inspired independent horror films as The Innkeepers, House of the Devil, and Stake Land, Hypothermia aims for the lean, no-nonsense feel of a '50s-era monster movie, with director James Felix McKenney (Satan Hates You) executing the story in just 72 minutes. That approach hones the focus down to the struggle between Rooker and the monster, though it also leaves little room for fully developed characters that are more than just victims in waiting. One can also appreciate McKenney's decision to use a full-body suit for his monster instead of CGI, but the result is awkward and unconvincing, which neutralizes much of the tension used to set up its appearance. Still, Rooker does much of the heavy lifting, with able assist from vet Blanche Baker, and the chance to see him in a heroic lead role after decades of heelish character parts may be the picture's chief selling point. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Ray Pelletier (Michael Rooker, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Slither) is looking forward to a quiet weekend of ice fishing with his family. Unfortunately for him the obnoxious big city father-son duo of Steve and Stevie Cote has picked the same weekend to spend at the remote frozen lake. But the two families' petty squabbles are soon eclipsed by a much greater enemy: something has awoken under the ice and its prey is human. Miles from civilization and with only a few inches separating them from the freezing water below, the Pelletiers and Cotes must now find a way to work together to fight the vicious creature that's out to hunt them. Director James Felix McKenney's HYPOTHERMIA is a modern spin on the classic monster movie, featuring memorable performances from horror vet Rooker and co-stars Blanche Baker (The Girl Next Door) and Greg Finley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars A Cartoon Creature Feasts On A Bounty Of Idiotic Characters Who Don't Have The Sense To Come In From The Cold September 29, 2012

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

Great character actors Michael Rooker and Blanche Baker headline this low budget shocker about a strange creature lurking beneath icy waters. While it's good to see these seasoned vets, I couldn't help but wish they had a better film to support their talents. While Rooker makes the most of his role as a father and husband pushed to defend his family, Baker seems oddly strained and robotic. But performances aside, there is little in "Hypothermia" to excite movie-goers. You've seen so many variations of this story (back to the Creature From The Black Lagoon), "Hypothermia" really needed to bring something new or interesting to the discussion. And it really doesn't. The plot, such as it is, seemed stretched even with a scant 73 minute running time. The screenplay forces characters to consistently make the most idiotic choices to protract the story to its bloody conclusion. For example, after battling the underwater monster through several deaths, one character decides to lay down right next to a fishing hole for a rest. Genius, huh? I know that's what I'd do! You'd have to be as lame-brained as the characters not to foresee the result of this poor decision.

"Hypothermia" is, in the most classic sense, a throw-back to the cheapie monster movies of the fifties. Wait until you get a look at the murderous creature in question. It's a guy in a poorly fitting SCUBA suit and a bad mask. Far more silly than horrifying, this is a movie that would definitely have benefited by leaving the menacing creature largely unseen. But that's not the choice the makers went with, the creature is front and center and elicits a few more laughs than screams. Rooker and his family have a house on the shores of an icy lake. He, his wife, his son, and his son's girlfriend wander out for a day of ice fishing. A couple of clowns show up to share the ice with them. The father is so over-the-top, he seems to be impersonating Danny McBride at his most outrageous. When encountered with the dangerous beast, they eschew all logical choices to serve themselves up as fish food. It's all so awkward and clunky and familiar, there's not much fun to be had.

Maybe that's my primary problem with "Hypothermia." It takes itself so darn seriously. A little camp or humor would have lightened things up immeasurably. I love bad movie monster mayhem more than most. But "Hypothermia" wants to play as a straight-up shocker. But without genuine thrills or originality, it falls short of its goals. I loved the ridiculous creature! In a humorous spoof, it would have been an outrageously successful creation. But is it scary? Don't make me answer that. Enacting every cliche that you've come to expect, "Hypothermia" simply doesn't serve up satisfying drama or tension. The 73 minutes felt easily twice as long, especially when their cozy house is just a few paces away from the deadly mayhem. A silly and unoriginal misfire. KGHarris, 9/12.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars WALLET FROSTBITE!!! January 25, 2013

By Thomas Monroe

Format:DVD

I bought this at Target so this review is about the film and not any Amazon seller(s) and, having owned it less than four hours and watched in dismay as a couple of good performances and atmosphere were dragged down into the abyss of this lake-O- crap, I can safely say (warn) that you should not buy, rent, borrow, steal or brush up against this waste of time and money. Michael Rooker does admirably in his roll as do a couple of the bit players and the frigid atmosphere of a deep winter Maine ice-fishing outing is well photographed. However .... there was some seriously ham-fisted acting, too obvious attack opportunities, a laughable "creature" that will be familiar to any one who watched the classic 'The Outer Limits' series and any cheap-o creature feature from the 50's - 60's that utilized a guy in a frogman suit with fins taped on and ping-pong balls used as eyes and - then - there's a hilarious' talking the monster down' epilogue. If the producers and creature (guy in ridiculous rubber suit) effects crew had put their hearts and another few thousand bucks into this, even with some shoddy acting, this could have been a righteously classic cult creature film.

Sad to see the efforts of a couple of good performances sunk so deep in this clunker. Do not waste your time or money.

I guess I could have just said "It sucks!'

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Save your money... November 20, 2012

By Deb Ryck

Format:Amazon Instant Video

I wish I could have given this movie a negative star. Bad acting, 'slow to no' plot, bad fake monster suit, and the stupidest movie ending I've seen in years.