A quote from Norman Bates opens this review: “We all go a little mad sometimes.” “Snow Falls” (2023) tells the story of five college students who head to a remote, upscale cabin near Salt Lake City to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, a snowstorm and power outage quickly put a damper on their plans. The film is another entry in the “cabin-in-the-woods” genre, similar to low-budget films like "Silent Retreat" (2016), but with higher production values akin to "Donner Pass" (2011). However, it suffers from an overly restrained approach. While it functions as a slow-building atmospheric piece and offers a cautionary tale about the effects of deprivation in isolation, it missed opportunities to make better use of its resources—something both “Donner Pass” and "Silent Retreat" achieved. "Mine Games" (2012) is another example, though not quite as successful. The film would have benefited from incorporating some standard genre elements to maintain viewer interest. There are a few moments like this, such as the unsettling hand in the closet, but they’re infrequent. For instance, Anna Grace Barlow, who plays Eden, felt underutilized; her role didn't reach the level of impact seen with Desiree Hall (Kayley) and Adelaide Kane (Nicole) in “Donner Pass,” or even Jeannine Taylor (Marcie) in the original "Friday the 13th." This isn’t a call for nudity or exploitation, but rather a suggestion to use visual elements more effectively. A musical sequence, like the one found in "A Bothered Conscience" (2006)—a film made for just $2300—could have also been effective. That sequence featured “When I Awake” by Hollow Earth Conspiracy, which is accessible on YouTube. While I appreciate a filmmaker rejecting predictable genre conventions, doing so requires compensating with exceptional qualities elsewhere. "Snow Falls" boasts an excellent location, a suitable score, competent cinematography and editing, and believable performances from unknown actors—despite what some casual critics might say. But beyond these strengths, it lacks depth; the characters and dialogue could have been more developed, similar to the writing in Quentin Tarantino's films. There are glimpses of this potential, such as the conversations about mass hysteria and the Russian sleep deprivation experiment, but they needed expansion. Ultimately, the film is a bit underwhelming, though those who enjoy moody psychological dramas with minimal horror elements might find something worthwhile in its snowbound setting. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 19 minutes and was filmed in Morgan, Utah, about 45 minutes northeast of Salt Lake City, on the far side of the Wasatch Mountains. GRADE: C+/B-

Source on TMDB