In the 1970s, a team of French documentary filmmakers sets out to investigate a strange occurrence in the French Alps. A group of hikers disappeared in the area, and rumors say they were attacked by a Yeti or some other mythical creature. The team hikes deep into the snowy wilderness, only to find that there's more truth to these rumors than they expected.
"Cold Ground" is a found-footage horror movie that uses the language of documentary filmmaking to add a layer of realism to the terrifying story. The movie opens with amateur footage of the hikers in question, their visible breaths a testament to the harsh, subzero conditions they're facing. We barely get to meet them before their cameras cut out and we're left with the eerie silence of the mountain landscape.
From there, we follow the documentary team, led by narrator and cameraman Sam (Doug Rand) and his boss and producer Harvey (Philip Schurer). The two bicker and joke as they set up shots and interview locals about the missing hikers. The interviews add a layer of historical context and cultural specificity to the story, as different characters talk about their own encounters with the supernatural, or their beliefs in the Yeti's existence.
The scenes in which the team hikes through the snowdrifts, their breaths visible and their boots crunching on the ground, are some of the movie's most effective. The endless whiteness of the mountain and the silence of the forest create a sense of isolation and dread, and we can't help but notice the deepening footprints behind them â as though something is following them.
As the team sets up camp and starts filming, strange things start to happen. Instruments malfunction, food goes missing, and the night is pierced by haunting animal sounds. The movie does a great job of building tension slowly, using small hints of the supernatural to make us increasingly uncomfortable.
When the actual horror starts, it's pretty gruesome. The creature design is effective and creepy, and the gore is enough to make even seasoned horror fans wince. There are some jump scares, but for the most part, the horror emerges more organically from the situation, as the team struggles to survive against the Yeti's attacks.
One aspect of the movie that's particularly refreshing is its focus on characters. Found footage movies can sometimes devolve into endless shaky-cam footage of screaming people, but "Cold Ground" takes the time to develop its main players. Sam and Harvey's dynamic is funny and realistic, and we get a sense of their history and motivations beyond just being there to scream and die. Meanwhile, the other two members of their team â a former soldier named Ben and a graduate student named Morgane â are both complex and compelling, and we grow attached to them as they battle the Yeti together.
The movie's cinematography is another standout. The team uses multiple cameras to capture different angles and perspectives, and the editing creates a sense of suspense and urgency as we cut between different points of view. The snowy landscapes are beautiful, and the movie makes excellent use of natural light and shadow to create eerie moods.
Overall, "Cold Ground" is a solid horror movie that uses the found footage format to create a sense of authenticity and intimacy. Its characters are well-developed, its scares are effective, and its cinematography captures the beauty and terror of the French Alps. If you're a fan of horror or found footage movies, "Cold Ground" is definitely worth checking out.
