RELEASED IN 2013 and written & directed by Scott Walker, "The Frozen Ground" is a crime thriller based on the true story of Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen, who raped, tortured and killed numerous young women from 1971-1983. Vanessa Hudgens plays a 17 year-old prostitute who successfully escaped from Hansen (John Cusack). Nicolas Cage plays the trooper who establishes a relationship with her as he zeroes-in on Hansen. This has elements like “Kiss the Girls” (1997), “The Flock” (2007) and “Hardcore” (1979). If you like those crime thrillers, you’ll appreciate this one. The Anchorage locations are perpetually overcast, but breathtaking and foreboding. Cusack is notable as the average-looking killer and Cage is stalwart as usual. The events take place in 1983 when anchorage was booming due to the pipeline and the ensuing sex industry. The scenes depicting the sleazy underbelly of the city (at that time) are well done and convincing. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 45 minutes and was shot entirely in Alaska. GRADE: B

Very poorly edited and features some of the worst examples of Vanessa Hudgens acting to date (if there are good examples, I haven't seen them, but in _The Frozen Ground_ she is especially egregious. No spoilers but I wonder if the real case this was based on wrapped up in the same way/for the same reason that this movie did, because if so... Jesus. What a tit. _Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible._