Review: ‘Arctic' Is A Solid, And Solitary, Survival Tale

The premise for ”Arctic ” is so simple it’s almost silly to describe: Stranded man tries to survive. It’s also been done more than a few times in movies, so it’s understandable if hearing that invokes a yawn. And yet with barely any dialogue, traditional storytelling methods or even a cute pet or inanimate object to help, director Joe Penna and star Mads Mikkelsen have made a riveting and precisely plotted film worthy of other greats in the genre.

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Instead of Mars or a desert island, Mikkelsen’s character, Overgard, has had the misfortune of crash-landing his plane in the arctic. We don’t see the crash, and we don’t know how long he’s been there when we first meet him fussing with snow and rocks with purpose. But a wide-shot reveals what he’s working on: A massive SOS. Ok, you think, he’s been here for a bit already. And he has a methodical, if uncomfortable-looking, little system in place to occupy his chilly days.