Whiteout
What?
Where hasn’t a maniac serial killer gone on a rampage? Space, yes, check. Underwater? Yeah, got it. How about Antarctica? Well, with that, the introduction of Whiteout can be penciled into the list as something “different” and then completely erased. Based on a series of comics, which were turned into a graphic novel, Whiteout is loosely based around a U.S. Marshall being in Antarctic on a research base who must catch a masked murderer. But wait, there’s more. We actually have a fairly decent mystery backdrop. In the fifties, during the height of the Cold War, a Russian plane has crash-landed in Antarctica with top-secret cargo. Now, years later, a recent science expedition has uncovered the confidential package that people have been dying over. What amounts to little more than a few chase sequences, a gross-out scene, and plenty of weak dialogue, Whiteout is the epitome of a throwaway “horror” movie.
If nothing else, Whiteout is more fun to nit-pick and ridicule than actually sit through. The director of ‘Gone in Sixty-Seconds’ attempts to put a green screen touch on a comic book (ala 30 Days of Night, 300, Sin City, or Watchmen) but doesn’t go anywhere near a cohesive story. The only conceivable positive trait Whiteout has going for it is a mixture of an attractive lead (Kate Beckinsale), B-Movie man Tom Skerritt, and some mildly pedestrian camera work. Throw in a fastidious post-processed flashback or two, a standout opening, and you have the makings that basically green-lit Whiteout into production. What may have been an entertaining film, which would resonate like The Thing meets Halloween I guess you could say, resulted in being a less than mediocre melodrama with a mega bland ending. Does bottom-rung horror have you itching for more? Then this isn’t it. Watch something else, please.
Optics:
Apart from the green screen and CGI—both of which are more distracting than anything else—I thought some scenes looked okay. Yet, for the vast majority, the video didn’t dazzle me. As abovementioned, the flashbacks did the job with burned contrast and post effects as a point to drive home the shift in time—I found those scenes appearing well thought out. Though the trite natural auroras failed to convince me of anything other than bad computer graphics. Practically nothing stood out in way of quality besides the camera used and the direction of the DP. Most all scenes are indoors, consist of computerized images, or have a boatload of fake snow blowing in every direction. At least try to make it seem legitimized rather than something quickly shot on a sound stage. Help!
Sonics:
Following in the snow-covered footsteps of mediocrity is the audio on Whiteout, which never even attempts to fully assimilate or pick up in tempo. The only outstanding scenes where sound played a key roll were the all too seldom chase scenes (I counted one and a half altogether). Beyond that, there’s basically zero bass and no utilization of the field. Mostly, the dialogue hangs on the stage with hardly any ambience. Give me something Whiteout! Anything! I never thought a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack would be rendered as useless as it is here. Talk about a snoozer. If I have to listen to Kate Beckinsale whimper out another line of poorly scribed dialogue, I’ll move to the South Pole!
Extras:
There’s no amount of extras on the planet that could save this release from the bargain bin. Though included are two featurettes—the better being the page to screen process—some deleted scenes, and the trailer, it doesn’t add to enough. Whiteout is on a region locked B disc and will hopefully stay frozen for eternity. Spend your money on a winter classic with some real bite. Not just a few glimpses of Kate Beckinsale’s almost nude body.
Well?
Yawn… Whiteout may have worked as a film had the script been ironed out, the effects cleaned up, and the acting not been horrendous. The BD is not far behind the quality of the narrative; Optimum has provided a rather meddling effort. A big pass on Whiteout is the best advice I can give.
Grant Iwan
Where hasn’t a maniac serial killer gone on a rampage? Space, yes, check. Underwater? Yeah, got it. How about Antarctica? Well, with that, the introduction of Whiteout can be penciled into the list as something “different” and then completely erased. Based on a series of comics, which were turned into a graphic novel, Whiteout is loosely based around a U.S. Marshall being in Antarctic on a research base who must catch a masked murderer. But wait, there’s more. We actually have a fairly decent mystery backdrop. In the fifties, during the height of the Cold War, a Russian plane has crash-landed in Antarctica with top-secret cargo. Now, years later, a recent science expedition has uncovered the confidential package that people have been dying over. What amounts to little more than a few chase sequences, a gross-out scene, and plenty of weak dialogue, Whiteout is the epitome of a throwaway “horror” movie.
If nothing else, Whiteout is more fun to nit-pick and ridicule than actually sit through. The director of ‘Gone in Sixty-Seconds’ attempts to put a green screen touch on a comic book (ala 30 Days of Night, 300, Sin City, or Watchmen) but doesn’t go anywhere near a cohesive story. The only conceivable positive trait Whiteout has going for it is a mixture of an attractive lead (Kate Beckinsale), B-Movie man Tom Skerritt, and some mildly pedestrian camera work. Throw in a fastidious post-processed flashback or two, a standout opening, and you have the makings that basically green-lit Whiteout into production. What may have been an entertaining film, which would resonate like The Thing meets Halloween I guess you could say, resulted in being a less than mediocre melodrama with a mega bland ending. Does bottom-rung horror have you itching for more? Then this isn’t it. Watch something else, please.
Optics:
Apart from the green screen and CGI—both of which are more distracting than anything else—I thought some scenes looked okay. Yet, for the vast majority, the video didn’t dazzle me. As abovementioned, the flashbacks did the job with burned contrast and post effects as a point to drive home the shift in time—I found those scenes appearing well thought out. Though the trite natural auroras failed to convince me of anything other than bad computer graphics. Practically nothing stood out in way of quality besides the camera used and the direction of the DP. Most all scenes are indoors, consist of computerized images, or have a boatload of fake snow blowing in every direction. At least try to make it seem legitimized rather than something quickly shot on a sound stage. Help!
Sonics:
Following in the snow-covered footsteps of mediocrity is the audio on Whiteout, which never even attempts to fully assimilate or pick up in tempo. The only outstanding scenes where sound played a key roll were the all too seldom chase scenes (I counted one and a half altogether). Beyond that, there’s basically zero bass and no utilization of the field. Mostly, the dialogue hangs on the stage with hardly any ambience. Give me something Whiteout! Anything! I never thought a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack would be rendered as useless as it is here. Talk about a snoozer. If I have to listen to Kate Beckinsale whimper out another line of poorly scribed dialogue, I’ll move to the South Pole!
Extras:
There’s no amount of extras on the planet that could save this release from the bargain bin. Though included are two featurettes—the better being the page to screen process—some deleted scenes, and the trailer, it doesn’t add to enough. Whiteout is on a region locked B disc and will hopefully stay frozen for eternity. Spend your money on a winter classic with some real bite. Not just a few glimpses of Kate Beckinsale’s almost nude body.
Well?
Yawn… Whiteout may have worked as a film had the script been ironed out, the effects cleaned up, and the acting not been horrendous. The BD is not far behind the quality of the narrative; Optimum has provided a rather meddling effort. A big pass on Whiteout is the best advice I can give.
Grant Iwan
Director:
Dominic Sena
Starring:
Kate Beckinsale
Gabriel Macht
Tom Skerritt
Columbus Short
Alex O’Loughlin
Shawn Doyle
Joel S. Keller
Best line:
- "How bad is it?" - "Bad enough that you don’t want to see."
Tagline:
"See Your Last Breath."
Description:
Optimum
UK
Region B
Rated 15
1Hr 41 Mins
1.78:1
DTS-HD MA 5.1
(English)
Subtitles: Eng
'Whiteout – The Coldest Thriller Ever'
'Whiteout – From Page to Screen'
Deleted scenes
Trailer
Ratings: (Out of 10)
Film 4.0
Optics 5.0
Sonics 5.0
Extras 3.0
Overall 4.0
