Bone Cold (2022) User Reviews

I don't know, man ...

[andrej-groups · 4/10 · 14 September 2023]

OK, I apologise in advance - this is going to contain a lot of filler words, due to the new requirements about reviews being exceedingly long, when for a film like this one a few sentence should suffice.

The cinematography was pretty good, really, and the acting not half bad, all things considered.

The depiction of the "work" the guys did seemed OK (obviously I can't vouch for it, I never served), the family tensions, the gall for being called off again straight after getting into relief.

But then that creature, presumably a personification of PTSD. I could have accepted it, daft as the costume was, if it hadn't interacted with Marco, Reaper2, and hadn't been visible to the completely uninvolved Sveta. That just didn't make any sense at all.

Don't waste your time with this nonsense, I did it for you.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 4/10 · 17 July 2023]

This is the most boring convoluted mess I've seen in a long time. It starts off interesting, but just keeps getting dumber and dumber as the minutes drag on and on. The little action there is, it's all in the trailer. All the rest is long and dragged out scenes riddled with plot and technical issues, that keep crossing paths that lead to nowhere, ultimately hitting a brick wall by the film's end.

Producer, writer and director Billy Hanson drags out multiple narratives for a slow-paced and bloated 109 minutes, keeps crossing genres, and still couldn't make up his mind what he wants the viewers to believe by the end of the third act with his cringeworthy and eyeroll-inducing nonsense; is it a psychological thriller about PTSD, or a story about a mythological creature that roams the Ukrainian forest? Legend has it, Hanson still doesn't have that answer.

If it's about PTSD, then this film is an insult to the vets who actually have PTSD, and he clearly didn't do his homework on what that disease is and how it affects people. If it is about a mythical creature, then it's an insult to the creature, for being so lame and boring - and unable to decide on which costume to wear.

The combination of horror and action may have worked if Hanson had found a way to blend the disparate elements of each genre, but instead he switches back and forth between the two without integrating them into each other, and leave trails of each theme broken and unresolved. The result gives this film an identity crisis brought on from lazy and undecisive writing, and amateur-hour directing.

I get that this is a low budget B film, but there's no excuse for letting viewers invest their time, stringing them along, then letting them down with a sloppy convoluted nonsense ending that will only frustrate and annoy them. It costs nothing to finish a script that leaves viewers satisfied, instead of underwhelmed and annoyed. A fifth grade drama class could've come up with a better film. It's a generous 4/10 from me, only for the decent cinematography and mostly adequate performances.

Really budget, mostly well done.

[jayg_58 · 5/10 · 13 September 2023]

Firstly, they should reduce the 600 to, at most, 500. Even that's too many. Only big budget, star quality movies can sustain 600 words. Most can be covered in 2-300 hundred. Like this one. Very very budget, and they obviously couldn't afford an on-set expert in all things military. A Colonel who gives missions from a basement - with a beard - on a supposed base - with camo insignia which appear to be a Spec 4? A rubber masked monster which is never explained, and an ending which just looks like 'well that's the budget, stop shooting'. However! The action and acting of the two main characters was good enough to keep me watching until the ridiculous end. Couple beers and it's watchable.

Total dud!

[fishon-21697 · 1/10 · 1 October 2023]

Poorly researched and written script. Don't waste 109 minutes of watching this piece of doo doo. Obviously very low budget as the director couldn't even afford to do any research on the military aspect they were trying to portray. The lead character is addressed as a Petty Officer. Okay, this is possible and the commanding officer for the sniper team is addressed as a Colnel, possible if he was Marine Corps. Used very outdated uniform they found at Goodwill, uniform was retired in 2003. Unit patch of pretender Colnel was of the 42nd Infantry, a National Guard unit, US Army affiliated, not going to command a Navy sniper team. Name badge missing and rank of E-4 Specialist on the collar tips. Rank placement not used since 2003. Ukraine War is now, costuming was in another Era. Now for the sniper team tactics, totally wrong! A spotter never leaves the side of the shooter, never on a mission. Now for the drone, wow where does one get a 3+day of fuel for a drone operation. Orders would not be conveyed via a drone operator. This film is horrible.

Keep moving nothing to see here

[jamesjeffreylewis · 3/10 · 20 September 2023]

Dreadful. Just dreadful. It started out ok seemed to have a good story but like a skier went downhill fast! As for playing the rolls as a spotter and a sniper not even close to being believable at all. This was a movie you want to enjoy but half way through you know you made the wrong decision but since you've gone this far you might as well stick it out to the end just hoping it takes a turn and surprises you. Nope the only surprise here is that I made the foolish decision to watch till the end and waste my time with this trash. This could have been a pretty good movie in fact I wanted it to be a good movie but the movie just didn't want to cooperate. Keep moving nothing to see here.

A COMPLETE FLOP

[zwbdvppfz · 2/10 · 16 March 2024]

I thought the movie started on the right footing and was making sense. I'm not going to lie, the beginning of the movie was solid; the story was unfolding quite well. The black ops was going well, the operatives killing the wrong individual-this makes total sense (bad intel, I get that). The movie collapsed when the woman sniper saw the creature. For the movie to have made sense at that point, the Russian woman sniper should not have seen the creature. When she witnessed the creature, it wasn't PTSD coming from the two operatives anymore, the was as real as it gets. Overall, I give it a 2 star.

It was solid....

[TodaysHaul317 · 5/10 · 13 February 2024]

Bone Cold is a 2022 thriller written, edited, produced, and directed by Billy Hanson (Coach Hop Playlist, Lightning Dogs, Survivor Type, and Total Ghostage). An experienced Black Ops sniper Jon Bryant (played by: Jonathan Stoddard from Falling for a Killer and Of the Devil) attempts a nightmarish escape after a failed mission, tracked by enemy soldiers hellbent on revenge, and hunted by something sinister and monstrous, hungry and determined!!!!

Bone Cold is a mix between a thriller and a horror feature. This one isn't as action packed as I hoped. Honestly, most of it is in the trailer. It still has some solid moments but it's more of a character study than anything here if you trying to figure out what sub-genre it fits the best. The lead was decent in Bone Cold, I think he mainly does soap opera and television work for the most part. It has a smaller cast so he definitely carries Bone Cold with his performance. It has some good creature fx, cinematography, and music for this very low budget film. This one definitely feels like a indie production which is nice because lots of features try too hard and it hurts the final product. Bone Cold knows exactly what it is has to do with it's small budget and they use their funding in the right departments. I enjoyed it but I'm not sure if it has great replay value to it. This is worth checking out at least once!!!!

A complete waste of my time

[borger_s · 4/10 · 1 October 2023]

Holy @&$! What a complete waste of time!!

Ukraine // Russian border - ok

Secret Ops - ok

Alien Creature - scary as F and very confusing.

The acting is fine but the story line // plot is not-- WTF??? I get the point of the secret operations and that kind of stuff--what we don't understand is the alien creature and how that fits into the narrative- why oh why did the producer include that sub-plot?? We are still scratching our heads-

I will admit that the alien sub-plot held our interest, though. Beware of the creepy alien and the sounds of the forest- not for the faint of heart (or lungs, intestines, or guts)...

Highly enjoyable for what it is even with some flaws

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 7/10 · 21 June 2023]

After a disastrous mission gone awry, an elite sniper team tasked with taking out the leader of a Ukrainian terrorist squad on the Russian border are haunted by a strange creature that may or may not be stalking them through the wilderness and must try to figure out its existence to leave alive.

Overall, this was an enjoyable if somewhat troublesome genre effort. When this one works the best is the fantastic mixture of high-end action scenes mixed with thrilling creature action. The military-based setup here featuring the team running through the wilderness going through their missions which require tons of tactical weaponry alongside the full-on firefights that take place not just for the successful mission that opens the film but also the botched one that sets the main story in motion that pits them against not just an enemy sniper but the other ground forces in the middle of their mission. This type of interplay is mixed together throughout the rest of the adventure back to their base when the creature starts getting more involved and bringing about a fantastic idea of whether or not he's a figment of the tortured psyche within. This comes across rather nicely and manages to generate a lot of really likable features here challenging whether his interactions with the team and those they come across are really happening with others bearing witness to it as well but the initial encounters cast doubt over this leading to an intriguing enough concept that gets utilized quite well here. There are some minor drawbacks that do emerge here to bring it down. The main feature is the surprisingly confusing layout of the film as it seems to shift constantly between this psychological mindset for the creature or a genuine article. There's evidence for both interpretations, with the first sighting occurring just after the botched mission that's a clear metaphor for the repressed guilt hovering over him with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. However, since there are also implications that those around him are also aware of its existence the use of both plausible explanations without committing to one is a weird take to go here. The other factor that goes along with the film not being able to commit to a specific style rests on its overlong and plodding pacing. The film runs a good ten-to-fifteen minutes too long with several implications that aren't really necessary, including the constant echoes of his grief eating at him which just ends up creating a highly repetitive feeling here with the cutbacks to his interactions with his family trying to get over what happened that are repeated in the field with his friend. This becomes quite tedious being utilized as such here dragging the running time out for no reason, which is enough to keep this down.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

Terrible everything

[booniesman88 · 1/10 · 17 October 2023]

*spoiler*Starts off bad, gets worse. So, at the beginning an arab man is wandering around with a metal detector,no gps,not even a compass along a road. He finds a chain and pulls on it to see its attached to a rifle case. He opens the case and pulls out a rifle and gets shot in the head by a sniper team that were camping near road for no reason. Sniper rifle is wrong, scope is wrong, uniforms are wrong, no canteens. They then call in for an exfil because apparently they are done with their mission. The "Colonel" is wearing an Army BDU blouse with no name tape and spec 4 rank. If you don't care about accuracy go ahead and watch it.

A competent and engaging thriller

[changlerz · 8/10 · 7 December 2023]

I really enjoyed this action and psychological horror film because it covers a lot of important themes, such as PTSD, what it means to serve in the military, and the sacrifices required. It doesn't spoon feed you the answers and it really makes you think.

Yes you come away with some questions, and not everyone is going to like that. But if you don't mind pondering a film and perhaps watching it more than once, I think you'll find it not only satisfying, but eye opening. It's incredibly creepy as well, and the score really sets the mood in every scene.

I've read in some other reviews there were some inconsistencies in the military uniforms and weapons etc. But if you haven't served in the military it doesn't affect the overall themes and plot of the film.

8/10 a solid film.

Just don't waste your time!

[znycwjpgvj · 1/10 · 3 October 2023]

One word WTF!!!

Super confusing, so many unanswered questions. Could have been a good movie, but poor explanations and storyline. As the movie goes on, more confusion multiplies. It makes you scratch your head and scream WHATTTTT Then there're new confusions on and on and on... No answers!!!! I can't believe I watched it till the end, but because I wanted to find out, what the hell was actually all about. Then it ended and I was like, no moron you can't leave me hanging in there with no explanations but it did!!!

One of those movies that make you frustrated and come out of the theatre with question mark on your face.

A Fantastic Thriller!

[mjlight · 7 December 2023]

Bone Cold executes its premise flawlessly. It's a character study, written in blood and biting snow. Soldiers are asked to pledge everything for a cause, and the toll is always more than just physical. This movie takes that theme, infuses it with a healthy dose of matinee creature feature, but never loses sight of its poignancy. When you get to the climax, which I will not spoil, everything is placed in sharp relief. Family, loyalty, patriotism, love. Bone Cold is a movie about the things that matter most. As a sidenote, the logistics of filming so much of this movie in the snow-covered forest are quite impressive here. Highly recommend a watch.

Spoilers!! Lacking coherence & logic but still better than a flick from the "M-she-U".

[mossadmarine · 3/10 · 19 January 2024]

Bone Cold is a 2022 indie thriller that follows two military snipers on a top-secret mission in Ukraine, where they encounter a mysterious and deadly creature that haunts their every move. The film is directed, co-produced and written by Billy Hanson and starts with a brief introduction of the two protagonists, who are elite assassins for the U. S. Navy(SEALS). They have different personalities and attitudes towards their job: Bryant is haunted by guilt and trauma, while Miller is more pragmatic and detached. They are soon called for a new mission, which involves killing a Russian operative in a remote location. However, things go wrong from the start, as they realize that they are not the first team sent for this task, and that there is something else lurking in the woods. The film then becomes a cat-and-mouse game between the snipers and their enemies, both human and inhuman. The film tries to create a sense of paranoia and suspense, as the snipers are constantly under attack from unknown forces. The film also explores the psychological effects of war and violence on the snipers, as Bryant starts to lose his grip on reality and sees visions of his past and his family. The film also hints at a supernatural element, as the creature that stalks them seems to be connected to Bryant's inner demons. The film has some strengths, such as the cinematography and the editing, which create a dark and tense atmosphere. The film also has some ½ decent action scenes, especially showdown between the SEAL sniper and the Russian/Ukrainian female sniper.(Lasts about 2min.) The film also has some interesting themes,like the consequences of trauma, and the nature of the enemy. However, the film also has many flaws, such as the weak script, the poor acting, the lack of originality and lack of any military consulting whatsoever. The film suffers from a lack of coherence and logic, as the plot is full of holes and inconsistencies. The film also fails to develop its characters and their motivations, as they are mostly one-dimensional and clichéd. The film also relies too much on jump scares and gore, which become repetitive and comical. The film also does not offer anything new or innovative, as it borrows heavily from other films, such as American Sniper, Predator, and The Blair Witch Project. In conclusion, Bone Cold is mediocre(at best) and forgettable as a thriller, that tries to mix war drama, psychological horror, and creature feature, but fails to deliver on any of them. The film has some potential, but it is wasted by a poor execution and a lack of originality. The film might appeal to some fans of the genre,(free on YouTube genere) but it is not worth watching for anyone else.

Well done lower budget psychological thriller

[rjhassman · 9/10 · 17 November 2023]

I just watched this film on Amazon Prime and this is usually not my cup of tea but I found it very gripping.

The story is compelling and sure, like others have said here, you have to suspend belief some but, hey, it's not a docudrama!

I thought the writing and direction was solid and the acting top-notch.

I won't spoil anything but there is one character in particular, who only appears in a couple of scenes, who I really enjoyed and talked about after the movie.

Not ever having served in the military I have no way of measuring whether the experiences of the characters approached reality but once again, I found the movie compelling and thoroughly watchable.

Questions what we think we know

[OneAnjel · 8/10 · 16 October 2023]

I found it very engaging, it kept me wondering what would happen next. The actors were great, the venue was great. I think we can all agree that when his partner walked up to the spy and stood out in the open, that was a big plot hole because no sniper would let themselves be so vulnerable. I think that scene was poorly thought out. I also think it was out of character for Jon to keep asking about PID because that does suggest PTSD (or heat stroke), which I don't believe is the case. But when the Ukrainian sniper also saw the creature, we now know it is definitely not ptsd; now 3 people have seen it - probably 5 if we include the 2 men who returned and refused to continue the mission.

The creature was particularly low level - an actual costume, I think. I disagree that the creature morphed into Jon - while that was a question initially, my take away is that the Ukrainian snipper didn't take the shot because she either was familiar with it and knew it would make Jon lose his mind, or it was some weapon they invented; either way, she wasn't afraid of it and felt that would be the end of Jon. It would seem that although the creature seemed real it was unable to actually cause harm, just illusion (maybe a haunted forest?).

For me, the film questions whether ptsd is always false brain activity. For those who agree, no further explanation is needed - especially after Jon questions all the previous ops they were sent on. The fact that his wife stays in the house with him would suggest she doesn't think it's PTSD because initially she did think that and told Jon he couldn't stay there with her and the daughter. I think this is a psycological thriller that asks whether all men who deal with demons are actually suffering from some mental illness.

But in fairness, there was alot to digest and I think others might have different ideas of what happened here.

And if i can offer some criticism, I thought it was unbelievable that so many snipper shots kept being unsuccessful. But that 3 in a row was pretty badazz.

One review made a list of why all the uniforms and emblems were unresearched and i think that is called OCD (because no one cares).

a good suspense

[darrenfroggatt-48791 · 8/10 · 14 September 2023]

This film from the offset told me it wasn't big budget, but what we have here is low budget at its finest.

Ive watched big budget movies that were not even as good as this.

Great actors and editing, the colonel was on point and the 2 man team worked well as it kept you drawn onto them.

Anymore would have been chaos to try and understand the too many multiple characters.

The story puts you on what i can only tell is PTSD,EXPOSURE TO HARSH CONDITIONS,POOR INTEL.

All of which when combined will play tricks on the mind.

8/10 from me and a must watch, ill watch again, pick up the blueray version.

A film that resonates for PTSD suffers and those looking for escapism

[gp-51759 · 10/10 · 1 November 2023]

It's taken a while for me to come across a film that offers escapism and action, alongside a thoughtful throughline which makes me feel good after watching it.

The twists and turns (for some of the more skeptical viewers) might be predictable, but I found them unexpected. I half expected the entire mission to be in Jon's mind, so I was surprised when it was more grounded and gripping and dangerous than I could have predicted.

The film has also the PTSD throughline which is accurately and solidly portrayed. Director Hanson made sure to consult with Veterans, and has also screened the film in theaters specifically for Veterans, receiving resounding sign off on what war, and the aftermath (both emotional and physical) is like, and that he accurately portrayed it for his characters. (I know a reviewer who thought Hanson had insulted Vets, and I'm pleased to confirm they are 100% INCORRECT.)

The PTSD storyline uses the story element of a creature hunting their prey to showcase what experiencing trauma is like, and it was amazing to finally feel like someone understood this, and made it something fightable.

You want the heroes to survive, to thrive, and to overcome and you are never sure if they will. You care that they are being betrayed at every turn, and you are completely swept up in the action which carries you every time you think you have a moment to draw breath.

Combine this with gorgeous film production value, it's a fun distraction for movie night and well worth your time.

Suspense served stone cold

[h-bauer · 9/10 · 12 July 2023]

This film is just really tight. It's a simple film, but it never feels like a little film. The performances are top notch. The lead actor carries the film, but there are certainly no slouches around him. Everyone delivers. And some of the small characters are exceptionally good.

The tension, which is what we are here for, is extremely well-played. The film is very economical with all the set-up before we get into the two-man team mission. A lot of films would have a group of five to eight people going on some mission, but you don't need here. The rapport between the two soldiers was great... and I was on the edge of my seat.

This is an indie that never feels like an indie. Deftly shot like a big budget action/suspense/thriller ride, it's worth your time.

suspense thriller with twists and turns

[kiminhwa · 9/10 · 3 April 2024]

The film is about two soldiers on a short mission, and the atmosphere is reversed after the mission and the story flows in an unknown direction.

The movie repeats the reversal depending on events and changes in the character's psychology.

The first twist is a sudden shift in the mission. It was a very short mission that required only one target to be removed when the task was first completed. However, even after completing the task, the superior does not allow the withdrawal, and instead performs another task.

The second twist is the emergence of a new enemy. A new enemy that is not the same enemy as the one to be removed suddenly appears and throws the protagonist into unknown confusion.

Well-Acted, Original Surprise

[MattFleckenstein · 9/10 · 11 December 2023]

This movie seems like an action movie on the surface, but is so much more. I knew nothing about this movie when I started watching it and I thought I knew where it was going, but it took a big turn and became something totally different. Super original. Good action, great suspense. I don't want to give too much away, but the story starts out with an action movie plot about a military plan that quickly goes wrong, but then a supernatural element is added that adds a great depth to the story and keeps it engaging in new ways. If you're looking for something interesting and unique, this is well worth your time.

Great little thriller!

[david_schatanoff · 9/10 · 7 December 2023]

Really enjoyed how this film allows you to interpret the horror that is experienced throughout the film. Well acted and structured script that allows anyone with half a brain and some intellect to appreciate it. The sound design was interesting and really supported the suspenseful moments. The score by Charles Honderick was haunting and is re-recorded well into the 5.1 mix. Make sure you watch on a multi-channel sound system for the full impact! Ben Meredith works his craft behind the camera and gets some really interesting images on the screen. Keep your eyes open for a particular one above the action (you'll know it when it happens). Overall, a fun film that I enjoyed at a time when studios aren't making these types of films any more.

Enjoyable Indie Horror/Thriller

[joshuadlemay · 9/10 · 8 December 2023]

A fine indie feature seemingly about covert government assignments that becomes a meditation on fear and exploitation. Had the pleasure to see it at its east coast theater release and really enjoyed the brutal tension. Some viewers may dislike the pacing, some people have said it's a touch long, but I find it's using the pace to amp up the fear. So If slow creeping dread, government misdeeds, and existential dread are in your wheelhouse, check out this little film. Some really solid acting, especially surprising that among the great actors in the film is the child who I'm sure will go on to do great things.

A must-watch movie that keeps you on your toes!

[crysdh51584 · 9/10 · 9 December 2023]

Wow, this is a must-watch! ! This kind of movie is not one that I would normally add to my watch list based on the genre - but man am I glad I watched it! It has the perfect balance of drama, suspense, and action. It keeps you on your toes and might even make you gasp with surprise a couple of times!

We have watched it a couple of times now and love picking up on details that we didn't catch before. We are already looking forward to what we might catch the next time we sit down to watch it!

We are excited about the possibility of seeing more from this filmmaker - maybe even a sequel?? Anything is possible!

BRILLIANT FILM ADDRESSING THE EFFECTS OF WAR

[brendalibbypollock · 10/10 · 8 December 2023]

Bone Cold is a film that addresses the reality of war and the effect it has on soldiers. The actors were phenomenal in their roles. Their portrayal of the characters was truly impressive. The effects of PTSD can vary widely from person to person, but they often impact various aspects of an individual's life, including their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The writer/director Billy Hanson's ability to subtly embed the message throughout the film added depth and meaning to the overall story.

The cinematography captured the beautiful landscapes of a Maine winter and had visually striking scenes throughout the entire film. The story constantly keeps you guessing. The element of unpredictability in the story is masterfully executed, keeping viewers guessing from start to finish.

A must-see film that impresses with its compelling story, striking visuals, and overall cinematic brilliance.