The story is simple - A recently financially crippled couple finds an incredible opportunity to get rich the easy way - By treasure hunting a stash of gold hidden some 20 years ago from a bank robbery. Cinematics and sound are great and the acting is "ok" for the most part. However - Why do the directors insist that people are stupid? The movie gets me up to the point where logic gets so flawed, it simply can't be ignored.SPOILERS FOLLOWS: *************************************** 01. When they find the old man - they don't take off his clothes - And the driver is a forest site inspector, used to the cold weather and don't know how to treat someone with hypothermia? I IGNORED THIS.02. Openly arguing about the "treasure" in a restaurant with the possibility of camera surveillance? I IGNORED THIS.03. Stealing a GPS although they found several thousand dollars in the old mans pockets? I IGNORED THIS.04. Not taking into consideration that 4 million dollars worth of gold would weigh a minimum of 300 pounds and not bring any rucsac for any of the 4 people in the group? I IGNORED THIS.05. Go out for the treasure "hunt" with ZERO planning? I IGNORED THIS.06. Go out in the morning without buying ANY NECESSARY EQUIPMENT or protective clothing? Well, this I couldn't ignore. WHO in their right mind would go out in feet deep snow in loafers, no gloves, no hat AND NO planning of the terrain to cover? WTF? No shovel? No backpack? I mean - COME ON - They could have bought all their equipment in any gas station.AND - Obviously - Everything goes down hill from here. There are thousands of other narratives that could have been exploited in this scenario. There is a hidden conflict between the pairs. Moral issues. Equipment failure. Gold moved. Hard ground. They brake into the cabin (this could have been much better used in the movie).

Will (Jamie Bamber) and Dawn (Stefanie von Pfetten) are returning to Vancouver in the icy cold of winter. They pick up a pair of hitchhikers (Marie Avgeropoulos and Aleks Paunovic) and then hit an old man walking on the highway. Circumstances lead them to believe he has the co-ordinates for $4 million dollars in gold.The film turns into a fight of the elements (hence title) and questions what we would sacrifice for a chest of gold. The frost bitten face make-up was more convincing then the plot. At some point in time, you might want to decide to come back with the equipment you need. Characters were okay.Guide: No sex or nudity. I don't recall much in swearing.

Briefly, the movie is way better than I expected. Not a masterpiece, nothing special but worth watching. I have no deeper analysis. Period.Except one 'detail' bothering me. I know it bothers very few of us, so please don't take me too seriously, just because I could not take the movie seriously. I happen to be a Finn, who has survived in frosty forests for the most of his miserable life.The sub-zero conditions are hilariously unrealistic in the movie. There has to be a reason for this, right? There must be cold somewhere in Canada in winters. Maybe the production was late or something. I don't mean movies should always be realistic, but come on...It is obviously very cold season, if not exceptionally cold winter. Characters get severe injuries of cold. Kind of damage not being possible without roughly -20°C (or -4°F) and strong wind. But as there is seemingly not that windy, it would be -40°C (or the same in °F) if not even under that. Without proper clothing you go NUMB in that environment. Then it knocks you out for good. Quickly. Before you become a half-frozen zombie.Eyebrows seem to collect heavy ice layer, but breathing is hardly visible in most of the scenes. The ice layer usually builds up of moisture of your own breathe. Snowing looks like a rain. Because it is so warm it is practically raining.The structure of snow around looks like it is wet and melting. Winterly rays of sun are too weak to have any effect on ice. The forest looks more like how it could look like in June in Finland... It must be around +5...10°C.In Finland we call that summer. We go out and celebrate those rare moments of warmth, preferably naked. Well... just being honest, just paid attention to these facts, relevant or not :)

I was so pleased to be able to take in this great new Canadian film! It is well worth seeing this one on the big screen. The screen writing was mature and provided really thoughtful character development. It also paid careful attention to the realities of winter wilderness survival . What could have been a slow moving walk in the snow filled woods instead steadily built tension between characters and drew the viewer in to the increasingly apparent ethical dilemmas of the journey. The cinematography was excellent. It captured both the serene beauty of the Canadian back country and the bone chilling realities of its wilderness. The film offers edge of the seat tension with a minimum of gore or violence! The cast put in great performances. You may want to take along some mitts and a toque to the theatre as you may feel chilled to the bone by the end. Highly recommended!