This unusual film presents a psychological drama set in snowy northern New Hampshire, incorporating elements of mystery, suspense, and thrills. It shares some similarities with "A Simple Plan," which was filmed the following winter; however, while “A Simple Plan” explores corruption through the lure of money, this one focuses on how the actions of a father (James Coburn) affect his sons (Nick Nolte and Willem Dafoe). Both films are worth watching, though “A Simple Plan” feels more clearly constructed and impactful. The film’s strength lies in its ambiguity, trusting the audience to assemble the narrative themselves. It's an examination of how a decent man declines, with subtle clues suggesting the origins of his troubles and his flawed efforts at making things right. Like "The Spitfire Grill," which came out around the same time, the story unfolds within a small New England town, allowing for character development among the locals, including Sissy Spacek’s role as a girlfriend. The key distinction is the cold winter setting and the absence of any sense of hope or resolution. Some viewers have called it dark, unsettling, and even frightening—particularly in relation to the father's portrayal—but there’s also an obvious comedic aspect; director Paul Schrader seems to be gently mocking these characters. The religious relatives, for example, along with the various conflicts, elicited laughter from me on multiple occasions. The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes and was filmed in locations throughout Quebec, near Montreal. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB