Ice House (2020) User Reviews

Not as bad as the two current reviews make out

[omendata · 5/10 · 3 March 2021]

I have to disagree with two low star reviews. I thought this was quite a nice little drama-cum-thriller for the $70,000 budget they had to spend and that is the crux of reviewing a film, it is not just based on the acting & story but I like to take into account the budget involved and camera skills, directorial effort as well as the production and this was a fairly good little thriller; certainly better than the real 2 star awful one I watched last night and many others this year.

To be fair both the lead actors are quite capable and gave good performances, the same cannot be said of the female and other male bit part actors, the story was ok; its not going to win any oscars but neither does it try to, the action was satisfactory and i liked the ending of the film actually - it added that extra little cherry on top to make it above average viewing for me.

I am giving this a 5.5 stars out of 10 its just above average and not a bad little movie - Give this one a fair shake, you might just find it satisfies a nights viewing.

Want to see something cool?

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 16 March 2021]

Grant (Roger Wayne ) takes his friend Wayne (Greg Berman ) ice fishing. After a lengthy conversation and a few fights we discover (plot spoiler) Grant wants Wayne to kill his wife (Tabby Delarosby).

It took a long time to get to the point and then the twist. It was interesting as a two man play and mildly entertaining.

Guide: F-word. Brief sex. Nudity (Tabby Delarosby

Don't Just Take It By The Tip.

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 3/10 · 1 April 2021]

What A Bizarre Movie. Two guys hanging out in the ice fields in a camper drinking beer and ice fishing. Talking about guy stuff, you know like 'did you sleep with my wife?' 'No.' 'Did you ever want to sleep my wife?' 'Of course, who doesn't??' Talk about the dumbest conversations I've ever heard with 2 supposed friends.

And then it turns out dude slept with dude's wife and dude wants his wife killed, and then 2nd dude gets drop on first dude and tables are turned. -1 Star for being predictable, -1 star again for me having to say the plot is predictable....

Will there be another twist??? Oh of course.. The wife...she wants in on the action as well!!! Really it's all just a convoluted mess of a story and rather dull. 3/10.

Half hearted rip off of old plots

[mls4182 · 2/10 · 25 May 2021]

This film makes you think someone held a gun lto the writer's head and forced him to write a screenplay in four hours. He immediately stole from Dial M for Murder, Another Man's Poison and Diabolique. "He only steals from the best."

Still, I can't help but get the impression this guy has potential. It is as if he tried too hard to cram as much plot as he could into one movie. I think if he started out smaller, like episodic TV and practiced making simpler stuff work, he could tackle much more. This wasn't bad so much as rushed. Oh, and dialogue is pretty bad.

Keep writing! Start with what you know and add what you feel. I really think you're going to do some great stuff in the future.

Great performances in a dull movie.

[haskel-72951 · 5/10 · 23 March 2021]

The headline is all the review you need, really. The two unknowns in the leads turn in excellent performances in a film that has great dialogue, but little else. Slow, glacially paced with nothing else going for it, it's hard to recommend.

two guys in an RV on the ice. drinks, steaks, smoke.

[Opinate · 2/10 · 27 February 2021]

One wants to get back at his cheating wife. I wouldn't want to be there with them. Don't want to watch a movie about them. Pretty dull stuff.

Completely inaccurate portrayal of ice fishing in Minnesota

[divapeep-45490 · 2/10 · 4 April 2021]

I am.from MN, so I was a little excited to see this thriller. Huge disappointment! The storyline was not helping. I couldn't watch more than 20 minutes. Don't waste your time.

A mediocre crime-thriller

[raiyann-52390 · 4/10 · 27 February 2021]

In a nutshell: Two best friends, Grant and Wayne, spend time on a Ice House, fishing. Grant knows that his wife, Courtney is cheating with other men and he also finds out that his wife might also be cheating on him with Wayne. So, Grant tries to kill Wayne, knocks him out. When Wayne wakes up, Grant offers him money to kill his wife by overdosing with the drug she normally takes. Wayne rejects, fight ensues. Wayne reveals to him that Courtney has also offered him money to kill Grant. A furious Grant then tries to drown him but Wayne tricks him and Grant gets drowned instead. It is also revealed later that Wayne kills Courtney too, through the way Grant asked him to do. Wayne then takes the money stash from Grant and Courtney's house.

Alert: Several nude scenes.

This is as newb as a production gets and that's not a bad thing

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 7/10 · 3 March 2021]

If there was a classification of C-grade films, this would be it. I have never seen or heard of any of the actors, as most are fairly newbs. This is amateur producer, editor and director Steven Elbert's first entry into filmmaking. Then you have the single resume-credit of Patrick Mills as writer.

Yes, this film has many issues in pretty much every filmmakers check-list, however, they have to start somewhere, right? You could tell from the start that this was an amateur production, probably an independent movie filmed on a shoe-string budget. The cast were inexperienced, yet eventually became convincing and started to seem experienced. Not perfect, but adequate - especially lacking casting direction from an inexperienced director.

The camera work was sloppy at first, but improved throughout the film. The score was actually decent and fitting when it was playing, which is much better than your typical overbearing and unfitting score you generally hear in B-grade films. The story was actually very clever and had some interesting bi-polar moments between the two leads. It had some good and surprising twists, with only a few plot and technical issues.

Although the 108 min runtime initially felt it'd be too long, the pacing was decent enough to fly by, especially with the twists and revelations throughout. You can tell thought went into the details of the screenplay. For his first ever writing credit, Mills did good, and both he and Elbert should be proud of their accomplishment.

Had this been the final cut from any somewhat-experienced filmmakers, it'd be lucky to get anything higher than a 4 from me. But considering this is a first attempt from two amateur filmmakers - and the fact you have to start somewhere, they deserve my 7/10 based on the merits of their experience and production abilities. For more clarification on how I review films, visit my IMDb user page to see more of my 1000+ reviews and read my reviewing criteria. Then support these two new and upcoming filmmakers by giving this film a chance. Bravo from me, sirs.

Eh, Nothin' else on.

[chipsdipsanddorks · 2/10 · 5 April 2021]

Reminds me of a afternoon soap opera or a Lifetime made-for-tv movie. I started watching this because the other prisoners had it on this channel. There was nothing else really to do except head over to the exercise yard or try calling my attorney again, so I sat and watched it. Probably the reason people really liked it is because they are stuck on a submarine for a few months and it's the only movie the captain brought with him.

Wtf was that ending???

[davidstevenson-13252 · 8/10 · 12 May 2021]

Could someone please explain the 5 second footage of the security camera in the ice house at the end of this film??? What is it? What did it mean?? It's driving me crazy!!! Please reply here or text me!!!

David Stevenson Ft Lauderdale, FL 954-789-1567.

Give it a try! It might surprise you...

[dainamariebradley · 6/10 · 11 December 2022]

I watch a lot of movies on Tubi because of their massive catalog. A lot of them are low-budget misses, but it's a worthwhile treasure hunt for movie lovers. The production wasn't top-notch, but the storyline is awesome in my opinion. I was riveted by the dialogue between Grant and Wayne, and the events which followed. It seemed to be going in a tired, worn direction, but twists and turns gave it a much more interesting one. It isn't standard Hollywood fare. It isn't going to win any awards, but it's entertaining enough. I didn't have the urge to stop it and find another movie before it was over like with so many stinkers on Tubi. It isn't for everybody, but it was worth my time. The script could have been made into a big- budget theatrical release. Good enough to watch the way it was, but could have been better. I give it a 6/10 for entertainment value.

Guilty Pleasure

[lee-96696 · 8/10 · 9 May 2021]

Not sure why, but I was roped in (reeled in?) by this ultra low budget psychological thriller within five minutes. I'm shocked the producers could deliver such a good story for $80,000.

It starts like a stage play. Who are these two, somewhat "off" dudes sitting in an ice house on some godforsaken frozen lake in Minnesota? Then the onion is peeled back, mostly with dialogue, but creepy voyeurism too, followed by physical conflict and jeapoardy.

Others here have covered the details. But the movies is a good exploration of class conflict, extreme sociopathy, small town social dynamics, and maybe -- I'm strecthing here -- some homoerotic feelings by the male antagonist. He is an ultra-misognyst, prefers the company of men and had an unusual 20-year attachment -- sort of stalky -- to our "good guy" here. Or maybe he is just old fashioned.

The last thirty minutes are very twisty / surprising.

I give it an 8. That includes +1 star to account for the very low budget.

Really liked it

[rajaskrishnaswamy · 10/10 · 13 August 2021]

I watched this movie by chance. However after a few minutes, I was hooked and watched till the end without a break. I really liked it for the way it kept me guessing. A couple of points, in the end, I didn't understand, but then the big picture, the acting, the direction were well worth it.

I live here/ there & it creeps me out

[bentaugur · 8/10 · 27 April 2021]

I grew up in Brainerd lakes (5 decades+). I recognized the big walleye in Garrison & I live 25 min. From the old Granny's pub. When they turned L at the walleye they were heading toward my house! Most people around here are nice & normal like Wayne, but there are those self entitled ones like Roger that seem fine, but you just don't wanna spend a whole lot of time with. This movie just popped up after I had watched "Wander" (also a creepy movie). I thought - it's about MN, cool, I gotta take a look. WOW! Now I'm creeped out! It's like a train wreck, but I can't stop watching. Gotta go finish it - Have a good one!

Twisted Thriller

[frogshadows · 9/10 · 15 August 2021]

I actually came here to find other films by the director and writer. Alas, it turns out this was their first efforts, except a short film by the director. Hope more is in store; much better than Hollywood is churning out. Low budget, interesting site (didn't know ice shacks came in luxury class), good acting, character development, sociopaths, economic strife, and twisting storyline. When you get to the end and feel upset, think old Hitchcock shows. Crime doesn't pay because the best laid plans oft go awry.