Cage Match: The Frozen Ground (2013)

“The Frozen Ground” features a grippingly restrained Cage performance in a harrowing retelling of Alaska’s most infamous serial killer case.

IN THIS CORNER: KELLY MINTZER

The Lowdown 

Hey, The Frozen Ground, I’m about to give you one of the highest compliments I give a Cage Match movie: I enjoyed watching you. This may sound like damning with faint praise, and at first, even I thought it was, and then I realized something. I enter these movies in a completely different headspace than I do others.

I think, under different circumstances, I might have been pretty damn into this movie instead of just sort of happily contented. But here’s the thing about Cage Match movies: so many of them are either absolutely incredible or absolutely terrible that there’s not much room for competently made, well-performed grown-up movies. Which is exactly what The Frozen Ground is.

Nicolas Cage—in really solid form here—plays an Alaska police officer trying to prove that John Cusack (slipping a bit into some of the cocaine-Cage impulses I was glad to see Nic largely side-step in this role) is not, in fact, the upstanding citizen he presents as, but is instead a serial abductor and killer.

Within this framework, there is some recognizable frustration with the way our legal system works and the assumptions of innocence granted to—let’s call it what it is—middle-class white guys. I think many viewers (this one included) will feel a real burst of rage at the idea that protecting a man’s reputation is more important than saving women. This is an old song I’m singing, but it’s always relevant.

This is rich narrative material (made perhaps more so by the fact that it’s based on a true story), and it’s executed well enough. I had to check when Zodiac was released because, stylistically, it feels a bit like Fincher-lite. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing; god knows there are worse artists to emulate.

All of which is to say, the worst thing I can really say about this movie is simply that it doesn’t do anything particularly innovative. But it also doesn’t have to.

A story told well is a victory, especially in this wild-at-heart and weird-on-top Nicolas Cage world.

The Cage Factor:

This is actually kind of hard for me. Part of me wants to call it a Cage Fighter because it went down really easy, and I really enjoyed Cage in this. He was driven, empathetic, and restrained without feeling like he was sedated. But I can’t quite call this movie essential. I’m not sure I’ll remember it next week. So I guess it has to be Cautious Cage, with the caveat that you don’t need too much caution. Cautious Cusack, maybe. He’s going pretty big.

AND IN THIS CORNER: STEPHANIE MALONE

The Lowdown 

The Frozen Ground is a chilling true-crime thriller that delves into the harrowing pursuit of Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen (aka The Butcher Baker). Directed by Scott Walker in his debut, the film boasts a compelling cast, including Nicolas Cage as State Trooper Jack Halcombe, John Cusack as the sinister Hansen, and Vanessa Hudgens as Cindy Paulson, a young woman who narrowly escapes Hansen’s clutches.

Set against the stark and unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, we follow Halcombe’s relentless investigation to apprehend Hansen, who has been abducting and murdering young women with revolting impunity. The film’s atmosphere is palpably tense, effectively capturing the isolation and dread that permeated the real-life events. The cinematography utilizes Alaska’s desolate landscapes to mirror the bleakness of the crimes, and the score complements the film’s somber tone.

There’s a lot to praise about the performances, particularly the dynamic between Cage, Cusack, and Hudgens.

Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Jack Halcombe stands out as a testament to his versatility. John Cusack brings a chilling normalcy to the character, portraying a man who seamlessly blends into society while harboring a monstrous secret. Vanessa Hudgens delivers a breakout performance as Cindy Paulson. She captures the vulnerability and resilience of a young woman traumatized by her experiences yet determined to seek justice.

Her portrayal adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the often-overlooked perspectives of survivors. In fact, that’s really the area where this film shines the brightest. While so many films about real-life serial killers sensationalize the crimes and turn the monster into a twisted folk hero while exploiting the victims and veiling their suffering, The Frozen Ground takes care to focus on the real horror of these acts without allowing a moment of titillation or glorification.

The film’s ending, highlighting the many real victims of Hansen, is potent and provides the perfect gut-wrenching denouement.

Ultimately, this is a gripping exploration of a real-life horror, anchored by strong performances and a palpable sense of place—a noteworthy entry in the true-crime genre and a significant, far-too-unsung highlight in Cage’s filmography. 

The Cage Factor:

We know Cage loves to sink his capable teeth in a variety of wild, over-the-top, unhinged roles that allow him to gobble up the scenery and act his ass off with, to quote Cage himself, “a larger-than-life abstract performance.” But, with this film, he “wanted to remind people that I can also do this.” And remind people he does.

Eschewing his often flamboyant style, Cage delivers a restrained and grounded performance, embodying a detective driven by duty and compassion. His interactions with Hudgens’ character are particularly poignant, showcasing his ability to convey empathy and determination. This nuanced performance has been recognized as one of his finest, stripped bare of pomp and circumstance. It’s simply authentic and sincere.

For more insights into Nicolas Cage’s approach to this role, I highly recommend this great interview that highlights how seriously he took this role and what it meant to him:

Of course, this is one of Cage’s least flashy roles; it’s not the kind of crowd-pleasing camp that generates memes and creates “you simply must see this to believe it” buzz. Thus, it’s easy for it to suffer from the chill of the “fantastic but forgettable” films that don’t always endure in the public lexicon.

But it’s time to thaw out this 2013 gem and discover why Cage ALWAYS understands the assignment.