The Ice Road benefits greatly from the inherent tension of its premise. By the time you’ve realized this isn’t a good film, you’ve seen enough that you want to know how to ends and keep watching.
An explosion in a Manitoba mine traps 26 miners. Their only hope is for special equipment to be brought from Winnipeg before their air runs out in 30 hours. Hauling the necessary wellheads are Mike McCann (Liam Neeson) and his brother Gurty (Marcus Thomas), Jim Goldenrod (Laurence Fishburne), and Tantoo (Amber Midthunder), with Katka Mining Co. actuary Varnay (Benjamin Walker) ensuring the operation runs smoothly - and safely.
The film’s title refers to the ice road necessary to get to the mine: a cleared path on Manitoba’s frozen lakes that will allow the truckers to arrive in time. The danger comes from the road itself. This story takes place in April, weeks after the roads have been closed for the season. The ice is relatively thin. If the trucks move too slowly, they could break through the surface. Too fast, and they’ll create waves beneath them that will crack the ice. So much could go wrong. You’re anxious any time we see underwater shots pointing at the sky or spot cracks forming. There are more opportunities to sweat whenever we see the miners. Some of the survivors are in rougher shape than others and when bad news trickles in from the surface, people suggest a triage…
There's plenty to keep you invested, particularly with the strained relationship between Mike and his brother, an Iraq War veteran suffering from PTSD and aphasia. Then, writer/director Jonathan Hensleigh introduces new elements to amp up the stakes - some of which I’m not sure make sense. First, we have some racial tension between Tantoo and Varnay - both are prejudiced against the other. It’s unnecessary and makes you feel icky but it’s well-thought-out compared to the conspiracy we discover...
Katka Mining Co. turns out to be as villainous as the Umbrella Corporation. They bribed miners to turn off key sensors and told them they'd be safe. Now the CEO doesn’t want anyone rescued - they'd be exposed. You might as well go from criminal negligence to flat-out murder then. They’re banking heavily on none of the miners having talked about the shady business to anyone and the insurance payout out. This of course means that Varnay is sabotaging the trucker’s mission. I don’t know what Katka Mining is paying but it must be a lot. Getting knocked off a cliff isn't even a deterrent from doing his job. What a trooper! Even if villains disregarding their safety for no good reason isn't a pet peeve of yours, you'll roll my eyes at how over-the-top the film gets
I should’ve seen the twists coming - they’ve been done before many times in other movies of this caliber. I didn’t because I held onto hope The Ice Road would be good. It isn’t. Exciting, yes. Good? No. (July 7, 2021)
