Dead of Winter

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2:23

Dead of Winter

R

2025

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

88 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

250+ Verified Ratings

Hit by a blizzard, a grief-stricken loner (Emma Thompson) gets lost among backroads near a Minnesotan lake and stops for help at a remote cabin in the woods. Here she discovers a young woman (Laurel Marsden) kidnapped by a desperate couple (Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca) who are armed and intent on murder. Isolated and without cell service, this unlikely hero realizes she is the woman's only hope of survival.

Critics Consensus

Emma Thompson takes a polar plunge into action territory with Dead of Winter, a chilly thriller that wears one too many layers of backstory but still satisfies as a tense showcase for its estimable star.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

Dec 3

3.5/5

...Thompson emerges from the surrounding mayhem with a performance both credible and touching. It has no unnecessary flourishes and she and the landscape collaborate to compelling effect.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

Oct 10

Christopher Ross, the DP, makes the most of this amazing icy, snowy, frozen, chilly, unforgiving scenery.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Oct 7

If that was all there was to it, this Fargo-inspired winter noir might have worked rather well... But the film’s main assets are repeatedly interrupted by unwieldy pastel-hued flashbacks to Barb’s early life.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Apr 5

3/5

‘…what’s worthwhile here is the two central performances; Emma Thompson’s sub-Fargo accent is fairly risible, but she and Judy Greer at least give as good as they get, engaging in a snarling, bloody stand-off in the snow…’

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Apr 1

4/5

Move over Liam Neeson. On this evidence, there’s a new United Kingdom actor looking to take on the mantle of cinema’s pre-eminent pension-eligible action star.

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Archika Khurana

The Times of India

Mar 20

3.5/5

Dead of Winter is a film that succeeds more in execution than in innovation. It may not break new ground within the thriller genre, but it distinguishes itself through its performances, atmosphere, and willingness to embrace tonal unpredictability.

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Mr. Wil

Jan 3

This movie was a surprise hit on my book. I didn't expect to enjoy and appreciate this movie as much as I did. it was a believable story of heroism and bravery.

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Robert F

Oct 21

Not bad, but not great. A bit of a Fargo feel to it with a lot less humor.

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Montana

Oct 20

This movie is terrible. One minute it is blizzard the next moment it is sunny with compact snow everywhere like the entire production crew stomped down the snow.

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Jeasica

Oct 14

Movie had a good story and surprisingly turn of events. Sad ending

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michael p

Oct 14

I liked the story line and a look inside these kind of groups. I was kind of confused at times as to what was going on.

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Vraj

Oct 13

I just randomly booked the ticket for timepass !!! And turned out to be great one… Emma Thompson 🫶🏻

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Brian Kirk

Director

Emma Thompson

Barb

Judy Greer

Purple Lady

Marc Menchaca

Actor

Gaia Wise

Actor

Cúán Hosty-Blaney

Young Karl

Dead of Winter: Exclusive Clip - I Won't Leave You

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Dead of Winter: Trailer 1

2:23

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Synopsis

Hit by a blizzard, a grief-stricken loner (Emma Thompson) gets lost among backroads near a Minnesotan lake and stops for help at a remote cabin in the woods. Here she discovers a young woman (Laurel Marsden) kidnapped by a desperate couple (Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca) who are armed and intent on murder. Isolated and without cell service, this unlikely hero realizes she is the woman's only hope of survival.

Director: Brian Kirk
Producer: Greg Silverman, Jon Berg, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo
Screenwriter: Nicholas Jacobson-Larson, Dalton Leeb
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: Stampede Ventures, Augenschein Filmproduktion
Rating: R (Violence and Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2025, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 1h 38m