It's an awfully rare experience (in this day and age of horror that usually stinks like yesterdays leftovers) to see a slice of indie horror that really strikes a chord with the viewer. It's also rare to find a film (indie or otherwise) in which everything comes together absolutely seamlessly. I'm talking about nearly every aspect of the production from the performances, to the cinematography, to the editing, and most importantly the direction all coming together in a near perfect fit. Believe me when I say that Freez'er is one of these rare breeds and simply put... is one hell of a film.

The story comes to an attention getting and abrupt start with a baseball bat to the head as JM (Barnes Walker III) in an apparent fit of rage kills his wife Andrea (Laurence Avenet-Bradley who was also the films producer and cinematographer). We learn that Andrea was involved with another man, and JM had just caught the two before he lost his cool and went to batting practice on her. Confused and obviously still very much in love JM heads down to his sister's desolate farm with Andrea packed in ice. Once JM arrives, he discovers he's not alone (he's haunted by visions and locals). This is really all one needs to know, as Freez'er does a fine job of piling on the twists and turns from this point forward. Part of the appeal here is that the viewer has no idea which direction the filmmakers are going to take them in. Freezer may not be highly original in basic concept, but execution is key here and this is where Freez'er is way ahead of the pack. This is definitely not your typical paint by the numbers horror film.

Freez'er is a celluloid nightmare come to life. There are many well-executed scenes throughout the film, and the scares are genuine, never cheap. The desolate farm setting adds tremendous value to the production, and there are some extremely frightening set pieces laid out. I was really impressed with Freez'er partly because it truly is a well made film. The word amateur never comes to mind while watching Freez'er. It's evident that every dollar pumped into this production shows up on screen, and then some. Freeze'er was shot on 16mm (I'm so glad to see artists still shooting film, considering how expensive it can be) and the filmmakers did a fine job of bringing their vision to the screen (the film is so well lit, shot, edited and directed, It's evident that all involved are destined to move onto even bigger and better things).

Freez'er is presented in what is essentially a special edition DVD brought forth from Iron Home Entertainment. The film itself is presented full frame (Freez'er was shot 16mm so this is the proper ratio) and looks quite good. There are a few minor instances of specs and dirt and a minimal amount of grain is present, but considering the low budget origins, Freez'er looks exceptionally well on this DVD. It's also worth noting that during darker scenes there are some minor instances of artifacting. Sound is Dolby Surround, and while most of the directional effects are left to the front speakers, there is some minor activity from the surrounds. The mix is quite impressive and muisc/effects never overpower the dialogue.

Extras include 2 deleted scenes, a trailer (which shows a bit too much, watch it AFTER the film), and a fascinating 15 minute behind the scenes featurette. Just about everyone involved in the production is interviewed (from the actors to the
special effects crew) and this makes for a really interesting view. It's also worth noting the special effects in Freez'er as well at this point as they are for the most part quite impressive. Especially the make-up for Andrea as the film progresses, she becomes much worse for wear as she begins to rot quite disgustingly. Other points of interest include 2 digital effects in the film that I would have never known were digital unless they had told me, and info on the storyboards, lighting techniques, and rehearsals. Also, as an added bonus, the entire score is included, as a supplement along with a full audio commentary from director/writer/editor Brian Avenet-Bradley that is essential listening, especially for those interested in indie filmmaking. One point worth mentioning is that Brian brings up the fact that certain scenes of dialogue were looped (meaning re-recorded and dubbed in after the fact). While this may not be evident to many, it was evident to me while watching the film, and it bothered me just a little bit. Brian states that if he had to loop one word, he decided to loop the whole scene so there wouldn't be any variations. While I understand why he did it, there are certain scenes in which it's evident that dialogue was looped and this could be perceived by some as being a bit cheesy as the voices doesn't quite blend in as much as one would hope. This is just a minor complaint (my one and only complaint really, mind you) as it does not hinder the enjoyment of the film.

I have to admit that Freez'er impressed the hell out of me and I feel compelled to give it my highest recommendation. Seeking out a copy of Freez'er would definitely be worth your while. You can visit Freezer's official site by clicking here.