The Chill Factor (1993) from Arrow Video

[rbarb]

The Chill Factor (Demon Possessed) Blu-ray

[Puffy]

I just finished The Chill Factor


If not for some pacing issues, this would be a fun (still dumb) supernatural slasher. I thought we might be headed into Evil Dead territory, or more appropriately Demon Wind territory but the flick doesn't quite get there.

The Slashings:

[Show spoiler]I know it's implied the supernatural force is the cause of the deaths but the way two of them are shot and edited (barbed wire, and the net hanging) it felt like those happened regardless. The icicle death was great though. And honestly, the blood and gore had it's moments, albeit small. I think the talent was there to do more with those scenes but maybe they just didn't have the budget.

The Possession

[Show spoiler]There didn't seem to be any rules to this. Tom is lying there while a shadowy figure goes in for the first kill, and again, he didn't seem to play a role in others... rather it was some force. I liked how his possession was more hm being an ******* who grew long nails suddenly though. Also his chase and death scene in the last 10 mins were fun.

Tough one to recommend. I didn't hate it but it does linger about. It's the definition of a background movie I think. Perfect for the winter given the setting.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Puffy

I just finished The Chill Factor


If not for some pacing issues, this would be a fun (still dumb) supernatural slasher. I thought we might be headed into Evil Dead territory, or more appropriately Demon Wind territory but the flick doesn't quite get there.

The Slashings:

[Show spoiler]I know it's implied the supernatural force is the cause of the deaths but the way two of them are shot and edited (barbed wire, and the net hanging) it felt like those happened regardless. The icicle death was great though. And honestly, the blood and gore had it's moments, albeit small. I think the talent was there to do more with those scenes but maybe they just didn't have the budget.

The Possession

[Show spoiler]There didn't seem to be any rules to this. Tom is lying there while a shadowy figure goes in for the first kill, and again, he didn't seem to play a role in others... rather it was some force. I liked how his possession was more hm being an ******* who grew long nails suddenly though. Also his chase and death scene in the last 10 mins were fun.

Tough one to recommend. I didn't hate it but it does linger about. It's the definition of a background movie I think. Perfect for the winter given the setting.

Watched this for the first time myself and your assessment was pretty much spot on in regards to my thoughts as well. This is a film that had a ton of potential but never quite does much with it. It has without a doubt some of the most cringiest dialogue I may have ever heard at the start of the film though. The strange voice over for the big dude in the bar, the bizarre writing which never felt natural, the acting abilities of the cast (which could have been way worse, but weren't exactly good either) etc. Once the cast arrive at the cabin things even out a bit more and it's a fairly by the numbers approach from then on. The comparison to Demon Wind is a good one with the understanding that Demon Wind actually gives you pretty much everything you could want/ask for in this kind of a movie, where as The Chill Factor only hints at it or gives you an ever so small taste. If Demon Wind is the Watermelon flavor you want, The Chill Factor is the La Croix hint of flavor you end up getting.

My immediate thought after finishing the movie last night was... "What am I doing buying all these films?" as I had a momentary crisis of conscience. I of course quickly silenced those thoughts as I love exploring movies like these, but a good film this is not. Mildly entertaining and as you mentioned a great "background" movie, but at $20+ this one is tough recommend.

Out of the last 3 Arrow Slashers... Scared Stiff, Trapped Alive, The Chill Factor... that I've picked up, I'd rate this one squarely in the middle with Trapped Alive barely coming out in first ahead of The Chill Factor and Scared Stiff bringing up the rear by a significant margin. I'm happy to say I own them. I look forward to one day watching them again, but there is a reason these films were mostly forgotten.

[Puffy]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

If Demon Wind is the Watermelon flavor you want, The Chill Factor is the La Croix hint of flavor you end up getting.

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

My immediate thought after finishing the movie last night was... "What am I doing buying all these films?" as I had a momentary crisis of conscience.

lol, that's funny. I thought that too after finishing this. I debated whether I would ever watch it again. It truly may be the perfect "I don't know what to watch and I don't feel like paying attention anyway" movie.

I dug Trapped Alive, happy to own that one though it feels very much like CF (no doubt related to the studio connection). Never did pick up Scared Stiff.

[HorrorBlu]

I don't have mine yet, but I read there's a workprint on the disc and I'm curious if it includes an extended ending.

I was always baffled by the back of the VHS case for this movie (under the title Demon Possessed). The plot synopsis spoils the entire movie... then keeps going after the point where the movie ends!

[jdw89]

Waiting for my copy to arrive

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by HorrorBlu

I don't have mine yet, but I read there's a workprint on the disc and I'm curious if it includes an extended ending.

I was always baffled by the back of the VHS case for this movie (under the title Demon Possessed). The plot synopsis spoils the entire movie... then keeps going after the point where the movie ends!

There is a work print of the film on the disc. I didn't bother checking it out the other night but I'll look into it tonight and see what I find unless someone beats me to it.

[HorrorBlu]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

There is a work print of the film on the disc. I didn't bother checking it out the other night but I'll look into it tonight and see what I find unless someone beats me to it.

Here is the back of the VHS if you're interested:

***SPOILER WARNING***

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by HorrorBlu

Here is the back of the VHS if you're interested:

***SPOILER WARNING***

Weird. That's not on the work print. I watched the last 5 minutes or so of both versions after posting earlier and besides some re-edited scenes, lack of narration, and the longest zoom out I've ever seen in a movie, the endings of both were more or less the same. The final girl does "disappear" but that's only because she

[Show spoiler]leaves on her snowmobile

.

I guess now that I think about it there is a scene of

[Show spoiler]blood spattered snow

that the sheriff see's so perhaps what is being referred to when they say

[Show spoiler]Tom got her.

[Puffy]

Lmao that back-of the-box synopsis. The movie is so thin on plot that’s likely the script!

[levcore]

I thought this was an entertaining watch but i agree with those who say it doesn't quite get there. The set up is solid and there's a lot of potential for a fun slasher but then it just kind of plods along without much drive and some of the kills just kind of happen. Great setting though, love horror movies in the snow.

That voiceover was so weird and unnecessary and to me it really sounded like a guy doing the voiceover! I had to check the end credits to be convinced that it was a female voice.

[darkkrisp]

I loved the snow setting as well. It was an ok film but, man did it take forever for anything to happen. I was really bored as when I’m looking to be entertained I’m expecting my horror movies to have a combination of or a focus on on one or more of the following 4 things. Nudity, creative or graphic kills, good story, suspense.

This movie lacked the requisite nudity, there were plenty of opportunities but the movie went out of the way to avoid them. Same with the kills. One of the most interesting ones they could have showed was mainly implied. I think this was probably more budgetary reasons than anything else. The story was very weak and took too long to setup. There wasn’t the least amount of suspense. And what was up with the brother and sisters relationship?

It seems like companies are scrapping the bottoms of the barrel anymore to put out these forgotten releases as almost all of the big titles have already been released. I’m not looking for the citizen Kane of horror, I’m just hoping to run into a buried treasure I never seen before such as when I found Hack O Lantern.

[Katatonia]

I've always enjoyed the film since the VHS first came out. It's certainly not a great movie by any means, but there's just something about that I've always enjoyed.

The Arrow Blu-ray is superb though, I never would have imagined it getting such a packed release. The bonus features were all enlightening. The workprint addition was especially welcome.

[MikeyMicrowave]

Watched this last night and TripleHBK's thoughts are pretty much spot on in regards to never quite getting "there."

Seems like Shredder doesn't get a ton of love around here but for snow themed winter horror, i'll take it over the Chill Factor every time. Shredder = glorious piece of shit. Chill Factor = mostly just a piece of shit. It had a few moments though. Worth keeping for bad movie enthusiasts and nostalgia buffs.

[PowellPressburger]

Finally ordered a copy off of Amazon last week because it is winter and perfect time to finally watch the movie.

For those curious my copy came with the limited booklet for First Pressing

I really had a blast watching this movie!

It is a 85 mins of fun dialogue and craziness.

Highly recommended