Netflix is here with another survival thriller, ‘Society Of The Snow’. Is the JA Bayona directorial worth the watch? Or can you simply skip it? Read the full movie review to find out.
‘Society Of The Snow’ is a survival thriller which is based on the real-life story of the Uruguayan 1972 Andes flight disaster. The film has been adapted for screen from Pablo Vierci’s book of the same name. The book tells the tale of the 16 survivors of the crash, most of whom Pablo Vierci knew right from his childhood. The film has been nominated to win at various film award events this year.
‘Society Of The Snow’ starts with a Uruguayan Air Force flight 571, carrying the rugby team from Uruguay to Chile. It goes on to crash on a glacier in the Andes Mountain range. While many of the passengers die on impact, there are many others who survive the crash, and are now stranded in the middle of nowhere. These passengers feel that authorities are going to send a rescue team for them. However, after days of waiting, there is no rescue team coming to get them. Now, it’s up to the survivors on how to save themselves from the harsh weather, feed themselves when there is no food available at all, and above all, trek the Andes and reach a place of habitation. It’s one of the toughest conditions to survive, and these survivors have to make that journey to stay alive.
While most of the cast is relatively new, comprising Uruguayan and Argentine actors, they all have given a stunning performance. You can’t distinguish one from the other as they’re all so good. Even if they’ve had fewer dialogues, their facial expressions, their body language, and their overall performance were brilliant.
The writing by JA Bayona, Bernat Vilaplana, Jaime Marques and Nicolás Casariego adapts the story from the book brilliantly. The way they’ve gone to add the thrilling bits of cannibalism makes you feel how deeply they had researched and understood the story. The writing understood that viewers might not be happy to see gore onscreen as they’re in for a thriller, and that’s why they so aesthetically and subtly touched up on the cannibalism aspect that you’re neither grossed out and don’t even feel pukish. Rather, you’re looking forward to the other bits and take this part in your stride. Also, the writers manage to give you the perfect highs at the perfect moments. Therefore, you’re not feeling like you’re just seeing a thriller, and you’re hooked even to the storyline of what’s happening. Also, you’re left constantly guessing as to what might happen next. Getting the audience to interact so much with the story is applause-worthy.
JA Bayona’s direction hypnotises you with his spectacularity. While the writing was good, his direction just uplifts the viewing experience to another high altogether. While people are usually taken aback by the gorgeous beauty of snow-capped mountains, JA Bayona has managed to show a very different side of these lovely peaks. The way he has captured the essence of the thriller makes you want to want to watch the movie over and over again. You constantly get chills and you’re left in tenterhooks every time a small sound occurs. Also, managing to get these feelings of horror across the audience through the screen is just sheer magic.
The cinematography by Pedro Luque is without a doubt the best thing about the film. While on the one hand, you’re getting mesmerised by the gorgeous landscape and the beautiful snowy peaks, you’re also made to realise how deadly they can be. Bringing the dichotomy into the visuals was really a masterpiece. Then, the scenes which were shot when the survivors were trying to evade the night chill or when they were buried under the snow for a few days – those scenes make you have a chill run down your spine. The scenes shot when they’re buried in the avalanche make you feel claustrophobic just by looking at them. That’s some mastery over the cinematography that Pedro Luque was able to translate that fear just through the screens. Brilliance at play, we must say!
The editing by Jaume Martí is also top-notch. It makes you feel so connected to the story. There are quite a few scenes where you can see things happening in the background with the forefront being that of the actor’s facial expressions. Those scenes have been edited so well, so that the viewers don’t feel grossed out, but also understand the gravity of the situation. However, for a thriller, it would have been ideal if the run-time would have been shorter by another 10-15 minutes. There are a few scenes in the middle of the survivors basking in the sun, which could have been slightly edited a bit so as to bring down the run time.
The music by Michael Giacchino is also apt. The way he has captured the sounds of the avalanche or of the chills of the night is simply brilliant. Also, the sounds of the survivors opening their eyes or stretching their arms after being buried under a layer of snow trying to save themselves in the open feel so authentic. The background score makes you feel as if you’re right there in the middle of it all, and you’re also battling it out alongside the other survivors.
Alternate Name: ‘La Sociedad De La Nieve’ In Spanish
Director: JA Bayona
Cast: Enzo Vogrincic Roldán, Matías Recalt, Agustín Pardella, Felipe González Otaño, Luciano Chatton, Valentino Alonso, Francisco Romero, Agustín Berruti, Andy Pruss, Simón Hempe, Juan Caruso, Esteban Bigliardi, Rocco Posca, Esteban Kukuriczka, Rafael Federman, Agustín Della Corte, Tomas Wolf
Available On: Netflix
Duration: 2 Hours 24 Minutes
Yes
‘Society Of The Snow’ is one of the most thrilling films that you’ll see this year. Right from the film’s premise to the way the film has been directed and the way in which every shot has been filmed, you’ll just be left in awe of the movie. If you’re squeamish or claustrophobic, the film will teach you a new lesson in these departments. It will leave you gripped to the edge of your seats and some scenes will surely give you goosebumps on how they survived all of this trauma being just in their early or mid-20s. It’s a definite Must Watch. I am going with 4.5 stars.