So Cold the River (2022) User Reviews

Slow paced and pointless movie without a proper story...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 29 March 2022]

Well, the river might have been cold, but it was hardly enough to keep me awake.

When I sat down to watch this 2022 drama thriller titled "So Cold the River" from writer and director Paul Shoulberg, then I hadn't even heard about the movie. I liked the movie's cover, and with it being a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I opted to watch it.

But writer and director Paul Shoulberg just didn't really deliver a movie that fell into my liking. The narrative of the movie is slow, so insanely and very, very slow paced. And since nothing worthwhile or interesting really happens as the movie progress at snail pace, it was just more and more difficult to keep faking an interest in the storyline. And little did it help that the character gallery had all the appeal of watching wet paint drying.

Now, I wasn't familiar with the cast in the movie, and I will say that they had a good choice of leading actress with Bethany Joy Lenz, just a shame that she and the other actors and actresses had nearly nothing to work with in terms of script, storyline, characters and dialogue.

What does work for "So Cold the River" was the production value. But production value is worth nothing if the movie is lacking a properly interesting and entertaining story to tell. So it made for a dull and prolonged experience to suffer through the ordeal that is "So Cold the River".

My rating of "So Cold the River" lands on a three out of ten stars.

A passing note only for the images and the acting

[diane_berger · 5/10 · 29 March 2022]

As I have seen only one genuine review here (those giving it 10/10 must belong to some lobbyists that have certain personal interests in promoting it), giving it a 1, since there is no meaning, no explanation and no logic to the whole script, I felt like some enlightenement and honnesty were needed here. If you can spend an hour and a half simply looking at some nice imaging and actors that try hard enough to make it worthwhile, go for it!

If you expect to understand anything or simply have something that stays with you after this watch, just pass it, since the script is awful and it makes no sense whatsoever.

All these new users giving 10/10

[mumooshka · 3/10 · 30 March 2022]

All these new users giving 10/10 - and one review.

Work out why that is Read the other reviews for REAL opinions. It's clear that the new users giving full marks have a stake in this film Shameful.

Atmospheri, Bethany Joy Lenz is great...but makes no sense

[paulsebastianphillips · 1/10 · 29 March 2022]

For most of the running time, this is intriguing and atmospheric. Bethany Joy Lenz gives a terrific performance. But it ends by refusing to tell us what the heck is going on. It's been a while since I've seen a movie so utterly ruined by an incomprehensible ending. I've read the book, and even that couldn't enlighten me as to what the **** was going on here at the end.

Movie Bad, Book Better, Audio Book Best!

[natewilliamsphoto · 2/10 · 30 March 2022]

I read the book when it first came out and really enjoyed it. As writer myself From the same neck of the woods as Koryta I'm a big fan of his atmospheric storytelling. I remember enjoying the book, great characters and engaging plot, not Koryta's best work but still enjoyable. About a year ago I was on a long road trip and decided to listen to the audio book on Audible. Much to my surprise I found myself hearing the story in a much different way than when I read it and actually enjoyed it even more.

Now the movie. I was really looking forward to the film version. I knew from the trailer that the main character Eric was changed to Erica and fellow historical investigator Kellen Cage turned into a female intern. Josiah Bradford's character was also drastically different than in the book and I'm not sure I liked the change to be honest. The movie certainly had some elements of the book, the hotel was a nice setting and the cinematography wasn't bad, the acting felt a bit phoned in. The major element missing from the movie was the sense of place the book had, the feeling of traveling back in time in Eric's (Erica's) and Josiah's mind just didn't translate well to the big screen. Unfortunately some books just don't translate well from written word to screen and unfortunately this may be one of them. It's possible if the movie was longer and more was included it could have come across better, unfortunately I think an hour and a half is just not long enough to tell a story with the amount of depth the book has.

Dark and meandering

[lusciousmuffins · 5/10 · 30 March 2022]

This film had some interesting elements, but the sum total was a bit of a mess.

First, they were clearly going for an atmospheric supernatural vibe, which made for a very dark and oppressive feel. This is definitely a movie that relied too heavily on dim lighting in order to establish the mood.

Second, while the location was gorgeous it was incongruous with the actual story. You're supposed to believe this is set in a small town where everyone knows everyone, yet everything takes place in an enormous, ultra plush, and thriving hotel. Sorry, those two concepts really did not gel as presented.

Third, this film leaned into metaphors, HARD. Symbolism can build intrigue if it is thoughtfully paired with a story, but this film feels like a lot of stuff and nonsense was thrown in exclusively to pad the runtime.

Fourth, there is no real resolution to this film. The makers wove a lot of potential threads together, but then just left them dangling at the end. Some concepts popped to merely blink out of relevance, others seems attached to the main plot, but then went nowhere, and the overarching plot points were never resolved in any meaningful way.

This film is worse than one that leaves you with unanswered questions because when it ends you don't even have fully formed questions.

Giving credit where credit is do, there are some beautiful shots in this film that offer visual interest, despite the rather drab lighting.

Alas, this film fails because it invested far too much in setting up scenes and not enough in developing a cogent story.

Ultimately watching this is like driving around in a car for a really long time, only to discover you've ended up somewhere you could have walked to faster.

So far off...

[laschick-96263 · 1/10 · 29 May 2023]

So many changes to the characters, relationships, & the plot...Erica instead of Eric, Josiah Bradford's character is likeable and tortured instead of the sullen, entitled, miserable AH he was in the book, female fangirl Kellen instead of the intelligent male version...the complete deviation from the plot involving the history of the area...the lighting at West Baden makes it seem more like a city street than the warmth of the hotel itself (yes, I've been there.) And let's not forget how terribly the movie minimized Anne McKinney & her role in the story. My heart is so sad at this adaptation and I feel like it was a complete waste of 95 minutes of my life.

I am left cold

[JaneBingley · 2/10 · 30 March 2022]

Its times like this I miss the message board here..

The movie has some nice scares, the acting is fine, the scenery is lovely.

I did not understand anything of it, though.

I love slow burners, and being a 54 year old grandma, I have seen some weird movies in my time. I normally understand them, and like them. This one was lost on me. I have no idea what happened in the end.

I dig open endings, but I do not dig confusing ones.

Help..?

Read the Book

[hillsaraelizabeth · 6/10 · 2 April 2022]

I am so heartbroken to have to write this but, read the book.

I have spent most of my life in West Baden/French Lick, growing up with the hotels being my home away from home so obviously, the visual aspects are wonderful. They were really able to capture the beauty of the West Baden hotel and gardens

I am also such a huge fan of Bethany Joy Lenz and think she is wonderful.

However, the story is everywhere. As someone who read the book, the basic premise is understood. However, someone who has no historical knowledge of the hotel or had read the book, would be completely lost. I was pretty lost myself. There were so many pieces that the story should have touched on that would have enhanced the movie including background on Pluto, the Lost River (the river mentioned in the title), and the history of the hotel at the time Campbell Bradford was 'alive'.

As someone who has witnessed and been a part of the transformation of West Baden and French Lick, I desperately wanted this movie to do well. I am afraid it will leave more viewers confused rather than enthralled.

Dang fake reviews!

[supermellowcali · 3/10 · 5 April 2022]

This was a competent production of a messy story that for me required a decent amount of fast-forwarding. There were some good ideas but largely a slow-moving, cliché "horror" thriller. Can't recommend it but there are worse movies this year. Minus a point for the fake 9 and 10-star reviews that annoy the crap out me, how about you?

well done!

[msalkin-46677 · 10/10 · 31 March 2022]

Contrary to many of the reviews, a little thought is all it takes to understand why it enfolded as it did. I don't want to leave a spoiler but do consider the omnipotence of the antagonist in the film.

All of the qualities of an excellent film were present...a difficult story told nicely by the script writer, excellent cinematography, believable acting, and never a dull moment.

A horror fan shouldn't be disappointed. The film is one of the best of its type in recent months during which it seems every studio is pushing out mediocre readily forgotten horror flicks.

Eeeehhh....

[cb-64378 · 6/10 · 1 April 2022]

Guess I have to read the book to find out what I was watching. I truly don't know you see. It was a nice one until the last 30 minutes when it went all astray.

Absolutely Excruciating

[jdubbpilot · 1/10 · 23 April 2022]

So slow, slow boring, so pointless, so very very bad. I can't believe that I paid for this utter waste of time. Ranks up there among the worst movies I've ever seen.

Slow burn, talkie, and mediocre

[pasaribuharisfadli · 5/10 · 3 April 2022]

So Cold the River perhaps is Michael Koryta's version of The Shining. While the rich and layered story of the book got some tweaks and alterations for its film adaptation, the simplified iteration sadly can't give the book real justice. It's a slow burn and talkie film that mostly resembles an episode of a mediocre late-night TV mystery show.

I saw this film so you don't have to

[AMZCali · 1/10 · 29 March 2022]

There is nothing interesting going on in this film. The script is all over the place and the end result is poorly executed.

Our time is valuable and honest reviews matter. Like many other low budget films, this one is being flooded with less than real reviews, not to be trusted.

garbage

[locomansimon · 1/10 · 3 April 2022]

Total waste of 1 1/2 hrs, no story, no suspense, no ending, don't waste your time ! What was it all about, the editing was shocking the characters totally random and unexplained, just reall really poor !

So weird the bottle

[jeroduptown · 5/10 · 15 May 2022]

She's a serious documentary gal with a crazy bottle of water that is the key to a town's murderous and cursed past. Webby story line with a peppering of gore makes for a decent flick.

A Lifetime Horror Movie.

[LordCommandar · 2/10 · 1 April 2022]

This would fall under the category of a lifetime horror movie because it has all the ingredients of a bunch of nobody barely can act white actors with a small budget. A one time nothing to write home about Bethany Joy Lenz production watch.

Eye Candy

[gab-67599 · 7/10 · 1 April 2022]

Now as for the story it was a bit confusing. Not sure who was bad or good and nothing was really explained at the end. This movie leaves you hanging and wondering what it was all about. Very good acting, completely believable and for that it deserves at least a 5 but below an 8. Just for the lack of a story and all the confusion there at the end. Worth a watch if you like slow burns that are interesting.

Non-sparkling

[begob · 5/10 · 1 April 2022]

After taking a commission to investigate the hometown roots of a dying patriarch, a documentary-maker believes she can intuit the dark truth and capture it on film

Muddled horror that assumes a few different shapes and replaces the heroine with an unconvincing character. The basic shape is of a curse from the unquiet grave, but then we shift into a confused divide between real and unreal through the heroine's camera lens, before moving to a cult ritual scenario. And all along there is the under-powered symbol of a bottle of water. None of the shapes is coherent, and the story adds up to less than the sum of those parts.

The camera work uses a majestic location to good effect - but I have the sense the location was convenient to supply a substance that the story lacks. You can actually take an online virtual tour of the place and come away with the impression, Yeah - just like in the movie. There's a definite vibe of The Shining, but also of The Grand Budapest Hotel through a comic concierge whose role in the story fizzles out along with the promise of insight from the cult festival gathering.

The performances don't come across as true, but I feel that's down to the script rather than the actors. The lead often seems bemused, and the other two principal actors stumble with underdeveloped characters. The editing only highlights the heavy, inarticulate dialogue, as the lead repeats the name Josiah one more time. And, in the end, we're forced to switch horses, since the heroine has no answers for us. The music maintains unease with scratchy, moaning strings - the most impressive part of the production.

It's hard to pigeon-hole this effort, but it has a nihilistic feel of a masculine world where there is no hope and violence is the only way of getting by. A retread, I suppose, of original sin leading to a vale of tears. Religious in the least helpful way.

Overall: Naff and unenlightening.

Solid horror suspense

[cummingsmailbox · 9/10 · 1 April 2022]

I've seen So Cold the River twice and want to see it a third time! It's beautifully shot, on an amazing location, with plenty of suspense, dread, and creepiness. All overlaid with great sound design. But don't think you know how it's gonna play out. Worth your time and your money.

Good work but not a patch on the book..

[bcbrown39 · 6/10 · 30 March 2022]

A little disappointed I'm afraid... "After watching "So Cold the river"...maybe I'm one of the few people who read the book before seeing the movie.. Acting ,filming and direction was superb but the book was barely touched upon and changed far too much.... I can see why people who didnt read the novel were confused!!!.

Loved the setting (of course because I work there and am TRULY impressed every time I see it) and it was beatifully filmed but this story should have been much more!!

Yes.. I will probably still buy it but sad it wasn't Michael Koryta's original book!!

Pretenious & disjointed

[iamMarkPrice · 2/10 · 9 April 2022]

Anguishing over the mistakes of her past, once up and coming documentary great Erica Shaw (Bethany Joy Lenz) is now eking out an existence filming funerals and the occasional wedding. A self imposed atonement for a secret she longs to forget.

Suddenly forceful client Alyssa Bradford-Cohen (Alysia Reiner) bursts into Erica's apartment uninvited, but what she says next will reignite the psychic documentarian in Erica. Before she knows it, Erica has commited to finding out the truth about Alyssa's father Campbell Bradford (Michael J Rogers). Thus our story begins.

Relative newcomer writer/director Paul Shoulberg brings some solid ideas to the table in a film which had the potential to be a 6 star film.

Instead what we see is a disjointed film tormented by it's complete lack of identity and voice. A film which barely scrapes in as a 2 star and that no one in good conscious could genuinely recommend watching.

So Cold the River showcases through contrary example the importance of good editing in the filmmaking process in order to develop a story that fits inside your budget.

The decision to employ undisclosed supernatural forces in order to deliver a fragmented retrospective on which the entire plot relies is both the main contributor to the muddled feeling of the film and insulting to the viewer. This is only further compounded by their short repetitive nature and disconnect from the scenes in which they appear.

One sees what Shoulberg was attempting to achieve, however there simply was not enough retrospective content to fulfill the goal. What did exist lacked sufficient substance to sustain the viewers attention or progress the story. This made it impossible for the viewer to lose themselves in the world of the film and painfully obvious that a thoroughly predictable twist was coming. Why else would you keep showing the same short snippets if it wasn't because all you had left was a reveal.

Moreover, So Cold the River is a victim of a curious paradox; for at once it is both far too long and yet too short. Pacing is a problem for this film and it makes this film drag until the viewer is beaten into submission. Despite this, there is so little plot substance, character development and world building taking place that the film ends before anything has even really happened.

Frequently we find ourselves in situations, or meeting new characters for which the film suggests in the moment there is precence where none has actually appeared in the film. One can only then assume the establishing scenes are sitting on the proverbal cutting room floor.

Similarly a lack of establishing shots of the town and the fact the overwhelming majority of the film takes place inside Erica's hotel, make the world feel small with the viewer is left questioning if any town exists at all despite characters constantly referencing it. Is the hotel the town? We'll never know.

Bethany Joy Lenz delivers an acceptable performance, whilst performances by Katie Sarife, Deanna Dunagan and Andrew J. West are perhaps more modest.

Set dressing is often too dark, actively drawing life out of the performances. Costumes were adequate and occationally fun. There is some pops of depth and humour to be found if you're paying attention to these elements, however they are sparse and can not make up for the lack of overall story.

Ultimately a movie is more than just a couple of good ideas that you don't have the funding to give their due execution. That leaves So Cold the River with little for audiences to enjoy and no real story to follow. With some more time in the editing booth and perhaps a few extra scenes shot, this could be a compelling casual watch. But in its current state you will regret watching it, and hate yourself if you ignore this warning.

Disappointment

[obi_wan_kenobi_UKR · 5/10 · 2 August 2022]

I will tell a short story about this film. The screenwriter was sitting and writing a really cool story. Everything worked out for him, but then a creative crisis hit and he simply wrote the ending.

And it turned out that nothing was clear at all. For two thirds of the timing, I still understood something, and then I got confused. As a result, some plot moves did not make any sense at all, because they were simply beaten.

I give these 5 points only for a high-quality picture, atmospheric locations and a good start.

don't waste your time please

[jsco5000 · 1/10 · 30 March 2022]

A movie that is not worth watching and watching, don't waste your time please. I hate it. A nonsense movie that has no meaning or explanation. You hate your life after it.