Wintertide (2023) User Reviews

Low budget allegorical approach - not all bad

[markwha · 4/10 · 4 April 2023]

So going into this movie and knowing that it's a Canadian festival film rather than a large budget project you'll probably know or at least have an idea of what to expect. This film is basically an allegory for things like the pandemic, depression, over-medicating and over medicated society, etc.

There isn't much horror but there are some quirky instances of humour that have me a good chuckle and some nice sex scenes with tasteful nudity. The plot, while a bit thin does what it needs to and the story while a tad drawn out is coherent and interesting enough to maintain interest. The acting is actually quite good given the films budget and while a couple scenes felt wooden, it all got the job done.

In terms of film as a whole I'd rate a 4/10 In terms of a festival film, it's a strong 8/10.

Interesting

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 21 August 2023]

Directed by John Barnard, who co-wrote the script with Carrie-May Siggins, Wintertide is about Beth (Niamh Carolan) whose world is battling a plague brought on by unending days of night and near-constant winter. She's trapped in an isolated northern town close to Manitoba where the few people left are mindless zombies, overcome by depression, but at night when she sleeps, she's able to enter another dimension that she believes can help her save herself.

This is a strange one, as Beth doesn't believe in the vaccine that stops that disease, so immediately you feel your politics - also, I despise that sickness became politicized but it's too late for that one, right? - you're not going to be all in for. Also, she lies to her friends about her goals and while they made end up benefitting others, they're more for her to find closure with her missing father.

Regardless, it's certainly a new and interesting take on the zombie film, even if your pandemic fatigue may linger. I think anyone can understand that. Maybe pretend that it never happened and you'll enjoy this a bit more.

Lead leads watchers to dislike film

[daviddelamancha · 4/10 · 4 December 2023]

The idea is original & interesting. The music/soundtrack is complimentary & balanced perfectly. The acting by all other actors is good & not overly dramatic. The story is not always solid. Yes i know its horror and people need to make stupid mistakes & the inaction of some characters is required in order to bring about more suspense eventually leading to a climax but when will we finally get good writing? Id love to watch a movie where the lead characters make reasonable decisions and their mistakes are not required in order for the story to be interesting or suspenseful. The lead in this movie isnt very pleasant or interesting. Viewers dont need a beautiful lead to keep us captivated and glued to the screen but we also dont need one that makes us uninterested or repulsed. The lead isnt ugly but she has the charm of an ingrown toenail.

Id love to see this movie w a bigger budget and better lead cuz the idea is very original and keeps you thinking about the energy we have inside us.

Would have been great if not for lead

[ShhImWatchingAMovie · 5/10 · 1 December 2023]

Honestly, this is a great storyline, ambience, execution; but I cannot figure out why they cast the lead. Every other actor in the movie is good, but she's the least convincing in the role they have her in. Image, skill, behavior - she isn't right for any of it.

The soundtrack for this is also impressive. The tone, intensity, timing - not always easy to accomplish with these types of atmospheric scenes.

I recommended this to a friend who had almost identical feedback about the lead. Not that they should have used someone attractive just for the cliche of it; I can understand not going that direction. The dialogue seems stubbed by her as well.

It's a shame. If they had used a better actress this would have the potential of being a sleeper hit.

Boring...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 12 December 2023]

When I sat down to watch the 2023 movie "Wintertide" from director John Barnard, I was under the impression that this was a zombie movie of sorts, given the movie's synopsis. I hadn't heard about the movie, prior to watching it, so I didn't know what I was in for, nor did I have any expectations. But I figured, since it was presented as a zombie movie in the synopsis, of course I had to watch it.

The storyline in "Wintertide" was utter rubbish. Writers John Barnard and Carrie-May Siggins didn't deliver a script or storyline that found much appeal with my preference in movies. And as for this being a zombie movie, well, hardly so. Sure, there were the odd shambling person here and there, but "Wintertide" hardly counts as a proper zombie movie in any regards. And as such, I found this to be a dull and disappointing viewing experience.

The narrative was slow paced and there wasn't much of anything happening throughout the course of the 97 minutes that the movie trotted on for. And that made sitting through "Wintertide" somewhat of an ordeal.

I wasn't familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie. But I will say that they had a good cast ensemble of actors and actresses, and they put on good performances, despite the fact that the storyline and script somewhat failed to entertain me.

You're not even in for a gory treat here, should you opt to sit down and watch "Wintertide". So the movie didn't even have that working for it.

This is hardly a movie that I will recommend to horror fans, much less to fans of the zombie genre.

My rating of "Wintertide" lands on a three out of ten stars.

What an absolutely terrible movie. About as boring as boring can be.

[mason25 · 2/10 · 2 April 2024]

It gets it's only stars for the quality of camera work and audio. Not one single thing aside from those is worth giving any sort of praise for.

The plot: STUPID The characters: beyond stupid The characters choices/script writing: TERRIBLE.

The "allegory" or whatever it was aiming for, MISSED BY ONE HUNDRED MILES.

This movie just flat out sucked. It was paced on a glacial scale, and ended up nowhere.

Absolutely zero "science" or even pseudo movie science to make ANY of it make sense.

Her father could have EASILY left her a note stating what she was subconsciously doing, or just spoken with her for a few minutes. Nope that didn't happen until the end when he does, and invites her to stay..... because now the threat is over.... except it wasn't.

The town or whatever has next to zero people in it, yet the streets are all plowed, apparently by one guy in a pickup truck.... guess DOT is over doing it with their big plow trucks.

She's basically the town wh*re, nothing wrong with it, but you'd think she might realize that SHE'S the problem a whole lot sooner if every last person she hooks up with suddenly gets drained.

This town also has a "science division" of a sort, securely locking away all the sucked dry folks.... surely she wasn't the only one causing this issue.... or she's REALLY been getting around.

No one has thought to shoot the sorta zombies, that would make too much sense.

Or carry a weapon at all... just because.

We've also got a public/communal heated nude swimming pool or cleaning spot for some reason. I don't mind seeing some titties when it makes sense, but why would anyone go to this place if they still have running water at their own homes?

TL/DR, avoid this pile of sht as you would any other pile you see when walking. It's terrible from start to finish and I sincerely hope the directors and writers and even the actors, NEVER work again at even attempting to make an "entertaining" anything.

A breath of cold air.

[seven-johnson · 7/10 · 29 November 2023]

I agree with both of the other reviews of this, but would rate it higher, a decent 6 bordering on a 7/10.

What I did enjoy the most, after a slew of generic Blumhouse films that essentially amount to "the scary... phone/swimming pool/cupboard/basement/whatever". This at least felt believable and seemed to have care and attention put into it. Niamh Carolan played a nicely understated lead, underscored with some nice visual touches from John Barnard Directing.

It's cetainly better than expected, the metaphors felt natural and not trying to hammer a political point, so you could probably comfortably watch this as a Covid-conspiracist or from understanding the sociological impact of that event (and ongoing fallout).

Again, worth a watch and a nice contrast to a lot of the over-saturated horror fare of late.