Review of The Ice House

"The Ice House" was I think the first, and easily the best, of the crime thrillers that shot author Minette Walters to bestseller status in Britain. Defined by strong characterisation and a sharp, well paced story, it has weathered well. The film made of the book is easily as good if not better, capitalising on strong acting, particularly Daniel Craig in the ascendant as an unlikely, wonderfully flawed hero. The excellent supporting cast fleshes out the background and helps draw you in to a believable world. Essentially the film contains all the elements I love in entertainment: well-defined human characters interacting with intelligent dialogue; crime, drama, a thread of romance shaded with darkness. A cracking film, well worth a watch. You never know – might even convert some of those Craig-as-Bond haters