Cold Pursuit Review

Via VOX Cinemas

Amid controversy, Cold Pursuit weathers the storm and comes out the other side with all its arms and legs. I had a feeling this film would be good and that feeling was right; Cold Pursuit satisfies its target demographic with ease.

Based on 2014 Norwegian film, In Order of Disappearance, Cold Pursuit follows Nels Coxman, snowplow driver and Kehoe citizen of the year. Following the suspected homicide of his son, Nels works his way up the drug lord ladder killing each bastard who gets in his way as he searches for vengeance. Meanwhile, because of a misunderstanding, two rival drug bosses start a turf war.

Liam Neeson and an action movie, where could it go wrong? Well, Taken 3 for starters. However, Cold Pursuit falls out of line with any downward trend associated with Neeson’s recent films; it is fresh as hell and Neeson is back. Everything you could ask for from a movie like this you get. Liam Neeson kills a bunch of bad guys, the film’s lighting and wintery landscape go a long way in creating the cold-hearted (no pun intended) tone, but most surprisingly the film has a strong sense of dry/dark humor. There is a running joke throughout the film each time a character dies which always lands and is one of multiple examples of the film’s wry humor I enjoyed. Cold Pursuit works so well because it doesn’t try to be something it isn’t while still managing to be new and exciting; the film doesn’t shoot for the Academy Awards yet still elevates itself above a generic thriller.

Outside of a couple of nitpicks regarding plot elements, and the abrupt and permanent disappearance of Laura Dern, Cold Pursuit just needs a couple seconds to heat up before becoming one fun ride. The film may feel a little slow to those who’ve become akin to the pacing of the Taken films, but it’s really not that bad. January was mainly full of clunkers, but Cold Pursuit finally signals the start of what is expected to be a strong cinematic year; I’d go as far as to say it’s the first film I could see myself owning of 2019. 8/10

Author: Teddy Frederick

Movies have been my passion since I was a young teenager. I had realized how much I loved going to the theater and watching something on the big screen, and I wanted to feel that sensation as often as possible. I began seeing as many movies as my schedule and wallet could allow, and in wanting to give back to the film community and myself, I wrote film reviews. I first posted them under the audience reviews of Rotten Tomatoes; if I ever go back to those posts now I cringe at the writer I used to be. In 2018, I had the idea to start my own space to post my content and thus Movie Reviews Today was born. I am a film and media studies student at Arizona St. University. I am also a three-year shift supervisor with Starbucks. My hope is to soak up as many movies and movie knowledge as I can moving forward and to share my passion with my readers. View all posts by Teddy Frederick