Starring: James McDougall, Douglas Nyback and Joel Labelle
Directed by: Derek Barnes
Rated: R
Running Time: 91 minutes
Saban Films
Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
Movies don’t always have to have plots. In fact, there’s the saying that too much plot gets in the way of the story, which basically means the film’s vibe. Some people’s favorite films are all about the vibe, more than it is the actual story. A lot of coming-of-age films are about relating to the character or movies like “The Big Lebowski” thrive on it’s characters, as opposed to the rug and kidnapping mystery. So, when a film like “Whiteout” comes along, you have to wonder, “What does it thrives on??
The film hooks you immediately by opening with Russian men kidnapping several individuals from an office complex. The men from the office are sent to labor camps while the few women we see in the background at the office…are probably sent to something worse. “Whiteout” follows Henry (James McDougall), who quickly, after the opening, ends up being involved with the escape plans of two other different prisoners, Kurt (Douglas Nyback) and Anthony (Joel Labelle). While the trio survive a labor camp gun battle, they quickly find out they might not be able to survive the snowy, rocky elements of Mother Russia.
So, why were Russian men raiding the office complex? I don’t know. Why was Henry captured and sent to a miserable labor camp? I don’t know. Who are these two who’ve picked Henry for their escape? I don’t know. Why does everyone we encounter seem to be a sharpshooter? I don’t know. “Whiteout” is a vibe. That vibe is non-stop action, although it does reveal a little as the film progresses, but not enough to add stakes to the overarching plot. Which is unfortunate because it’d be nice to care about Henry’s plight, more than feeling bad for the out of shape tubby guy who has to deal with the worst from Old Man Winter and the lack of trust from those he’s escaped with. That being said, the movie isn’t as predictable as you might think as the third act delivers a few decent shocks.
While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend “Whiteout,” if you were to tell me you were going to watch it, I wouldn’t stop you from watching it. That being said, you really have to enjoy some mindless thrills and actions because you’re not going to get much in the way of thought provoking content. There’s a lot to enjoy from Derek Barnes in his debut feature. He really does capture the vast emptiness of the wilderness and some of the more unforgiving aspects of it. And even with a low budget, the action is incredibly choreographed and the suspense keeps you engaged even if Barnes didn’t know how to write anything beyond a basic plot.