aka The Chill Factor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Five days ago, at Tower Mountain Research Station in Antarctica, Dr. Vogel’s transmission came off as erratic and concerning. Communication has ceased (something they are hoping to blame on a bad snow storm) and two scientists have been sent in to replace the possibly cracking brilliant man. Doctors Robert Jones (Robert Culp) and Frank Enari (an excellent Eli Wallach) arrive at the isolated building (along with a chimpanzee named Geronimo) and discover Vogel has ended his own life by leaving a window open and allowing himself to become a much-respected popsicle. The initial belief of a heart attack mixing with a ridiculous amount of coincidence does not hold up after an autopsy. The two scientists get the facility in working order (cleaning up, getting the heat running and making sure the primates used in their altitude research are thawed and comfortable) but slowly discover that something is very wrong in the isolated station. With the expected awful weather hammering down and no means of exit, the two men must contend with the unknown if they wish to avoid the same fate of their frozen colleague. Vogel managed to leave a recording behind which raises further questions as it’s all blank. Robert begins to scratch the itch as to how Vogel came to his end because all of the questions he’s posing don’t have satisfactory official answers and he’s not content with the idea that Vogel lost his mind up there on his lonesome. Mounting issues have Robert contemplating a possible supernatural answer while Frank refuses to accept there’s anything that can’t be explained away with science and is starting to suspect elevation and isolation may be chipping away at his partner’s mental stability. Maybe it’s all just paranoia, maybe there is something malicious festering in the isolation or maybe there’s something logical at play… unlikely but logical. One of the best TV terrors of the seventies utilizes its chilly atmosphere to perfection and anchors itself with two established leads treating the material with all seriousness. The pervasive dread soaks into every scene (a brilliant use of slow pans and tracking shots) and makes for a satisfying slow burn that feels as spooky as it is inevitable.
No comments:
Post a Comment