“Outrageously enjoyable” thriller with Emma Thompson as you’ve never seen her before is now available to watch

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The thrilling new movie *Dead of Winter*, featuring a fantastic performance by Emma Thompson, is now streaming in the UK. Here’s a look at what you need to know about the acclaimed actress’s latest film.

The movie takes place in Minnesota, covered in snow, and stars Thompson as Barb, a woman deeply saddened by loss and living a solitary life. During a powerful blizzard, Barb gets lost while out for a walk.

While exploring the woods, the main character discovers a secluded cabin and finds Leah (Laurel Marsden) inside. Leah appears to be held captive by a married couple (Judy Greer and Marc Menchaca), and the character wonders if she can rescue her.

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Brian Kirk’s film, *Dead of Winter*, premiered at the Locarno Film Festival last month and is now showing in UK cinemas.

Still on the fence about watching this mystery thriller? Critics seem to like it – it currently has a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 30 reviews.

According to *The Guardian*, Thompson’s warm and approachable personality effectively balances the intense villainy of Greer and her cruel plans for her captive, making the film “outrageously enjoyable.”

According to IndieWire, the show barely has a scene where Thompson’s character isn’t getting attacked, pursued, or shot at in freezing weather, but nothing – not even frostbite – could have kept her from experiencing her own version of the world of *Fargo*.

According to *The Independent*, this likely isn’t a sign Thompson is changing careers, but it’s a welcome change of pace for a beloved British performer. *The Spectator* praised the work as both well-crafted and suspenseful.

The *Financial Times* highlighted the actor’s central performance, noting that director Brian Kirk maintained a quick pace with subtle surprises. However, they emphasized that Thompson was the true standout.

This role is a bit of a departure for Thompson, as the project involves much more action than her previous work. She recently told Picturehouse about the difficult filming conditions they faced in Finland.

I was really anxious about going underwater, as you might expect,” she remembered. “We had to train to hold our breath, and practice a lot. We spent hours in freezing lakes to get used to the cold before diving.”

The actor arrived in Finland a month early to get used to the cold weather. It was -29 degrees Celsius when they landed, which they found really beneficial for preparing for the film shoot.

Dead of Winter is in cinemas now.

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2025-09-26 13:49