The Last Winter (2006) (USA/Iceland)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chilly bit of eco-terror is another win for Larry Fessenden. Tracking strategic drilling locations in the Remote Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a small group of people have assembled together in the snow-covered wilds. An American oil company, North Corporation, has set up shop and a team of environmental experts are along to make sure they don't destroy one of the last areas of unmolested nature. Company man Ed Pollack (Ron Perlman) arrives just as the the final measures are being taken to begin bringing in equipment and almost immediately things begin to crumble around the base. Radical temperature jumps and a quickly melting permafrost has convinced lead environmentalist James Hoffman (James Le Gros) that some unknown gas may be seeping out of the ground and causing the concerning mental breakdown happening amongst the crew. Yet he also has a sneaking suspicion that some unknown force of nature has finally had enough and is fighting back. When the frozen body of the youngest member of the team is discovered nude in the snow-bleached tundra, Ed tries to keep everyone in check so the oil operations can begin. This proves difficult as unease sinks in and more lives come to an end. Could it be that a ten-thousand-year-old bacterium is causing a deterioration in mental health or is there actually some preternatural force at work, finally fed up with man's incessant abuse of earth? I won't spoil it. The cast is excellent and the Alaskan and Icelandic filming locations carry a great atmosphere. The dread grows with each passing moment and is handled expertly by the sure hand of Fessenden. Violence hits like a hammer when it comes but is never unnecessary. The digital effects work is used sparingly and does not offend (there's only one scene that looks shitty) and the ending is near perfect. Ranks with the best of those classic "man should stop fucking with nature" flicks.