So apparently there's lots of people hating on this film. Unlike many, I don't need constant action and jump scares to keep me entertained. I also don't need everything explained to me. While it's nice not to be left guessing, I like a film that makes me think. This movie definitely did that. And while I think the ending could have been better, I don't think it's difficult to figure out and I'll offer my theory.
So three American men go on a Norwegian tourist expedition in the Arctic, leaving port on a boat from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, which is on a large group of Norwegian islands extremely north near the northern tip of Greenland. On this trip, there's a few German tourists, 2 scientists, a few Swedish people, and the 3 Americans who are there to film an episode of a travel show. One of them (the camera man) was hired last minute because the regular camera guy was unable to get a visa.
All is well as they embark, and they have a funny Norwegian host who makes the tour welcoming. Things start to seem a bit odd when Ray notices a seagull that's missing its eyes. Shortly after the tourists witness a walrus kill its child, and they're all in shock. Not long after that the people try to forget the gruesome scene by trying a local delicassy (whale meat). While Ray and Alan are inside, the rest of the tourists are on the front deck. They come out to discover that everyone on the boat has mysteriously vanished. Panic ensues and they eventually take a life raft to a small town they see from the ocean.
The town appears to be a small Russian fishing or oil town still with Soviet signage. But it's abandoned. As the mystery deepens Alan begins to get sick. He has noticeable legions on his skin and coughs up blood at one point.
Now here's the questions...the camera guy was filming when the people vanished. He lies to Ray and Alan about it claiming he was in the bathroom when it happened but Alan eventually discovers the truth when it was caught on the German girls camera.
The big reveal comes and we learn that the camera guy is actually working for a top secret agency to document an experiment. Some sort of sonic weapon is being tested in the Arctic that causes a vibration that cannot be heard. This experiment caused the people to vaporize, except for people who have listened to some weird humming on a tape recording in the camera guy's lunch box. Since Ray listened to it longer than Alan did he doesn't seem to be effected by the experiment like Ray was. We also notice a deer and polar bear suffering from the effects of the experiment. In the end rescue is supposed to be coming when the camera guy is suddenly shot by an apparent sniper. Alan passes away from the illness brought on by the experiment, and Alan is freaking out by the gunshot and a phone ringing.
Here's my theory...the camera guy was never going to be paid for documenting the experiment because of its extreme top secrecy. He was just being used. So when the people behind it found their location they arrived and took him out. Then they called the room Ray was in to tell him he needs to come out and they'll kill him as well or let him die.
I thought it was a great slow burn film on a very low budget. The acting was good and it kept me thinking. There were a few flaws though. I'm not sure why we saw a man's ears bleeding and the walrus and seagull before the experiment started. Unless it was already building. And one major flaw was I don't understand how the clothes vanished on the people who disappeared. It should have been just the people. Even on a small budget they could have had their clothes on the floor. Otherwise the 3 Americans would have lost their clothes as well. Listening to whatever was on those headphones would'nt have protected clothing. So why did theirs stay? That makes no sense.
And one flaw in the story. The camera guy was filming the vanishing. Alan and Ray discover this but never demand to see the video. I assume this was because it was on a low budget but they could have shown the characters watch it without showing it. They never even asked. It would have been the first thing I did if I knew he filmed it.
Anyway, I enjoyed this movie. Not perfect, but very well done for such a small budget. Not deserving of the hate.
So three American men go on a Norwegian tourist expedition in the Arctic, leaving port on a boat from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, which is on a large group of Norwegian islands extremely north near the northern tip of Greenland. On this trip, there's a few German tourists, 2 scientists, a few Swedish people, and the 3 Americans who are there to film an episode of a travel show. One of them (the camera man) was hired last minute because the regular camera guy was unable to get a visa.
All is well as they embark, and they have a funny Norwegian host who makes the tour welcoming. Things start to seem a bit odd when Ray notices a seagull that's missing its eyes. Shortly after the tourists witness a walrus kill its child, and they're all in shock. Not long after that the people try to forget the gruesome scene by trying a local delicassy (whale meat). While Ray and Alan are inside, the rest of the tourists are on the front deck. They come out to discover that everyone on the boat has mysteriously vanished. Panic ensues and they eventually take a life raft to a small town they see from the ocean.
The town appears to be a small Russian fishing or oil town still with Soviet signage. But it's abandoned. As the mystery deepens Alan begins to get sick. He has noticeable legions on his skin and coughs up blood at one point.
Now here's the questions...the camera guy was filming when the people vanished. He lies to Ray and Alan about it claiming he was in the bathroom when it happened but Alan eventually discovers the truth when it was caught on the German girls camera.
The big reveal comes and we learn that the camera guy is actually working for a top secret agency to document an experiment. Some sort of sonic weapon is being tested in the Arctic that causes a vibration that cannot be heard. This experiment caused the people to vaporize, except for people who have listened to some weird humming on a tape recording in the camera guy's lunch box. Since Ray listened to it longer than Alan did he doesn't seem to be effected by the experiment like Ray was. We also notice a deer and polar bear suffering from the effects of the experiment. In the end rescue is supposed to be coming when the camera guy is suddenly shot by an apparent sniper. Alan passes away from the illness brought on by the experiment, and Alan is freaking out by the gunshot and a phone ringing.
Here's my theory...the camera guy was never going to be paid for documenting the experiment because of its extreme top secrecy. He was just being used. So when the people behind it found their location they arrived and took him out. Then they called the room Ray was in to tell him he needs to come out and they'll kill him as well or let him die.
I thought it was a great slow burn film on a very low budget. The acting was good and it kept me thinking. There were a few flaws though. I'm not sure why we saw a man's ears bleeding and the walrus and seagull before the experiment started. Unless it was already building. And one major flaw was I don't understand how the clothes vanished on the people who disappeared. It should have been just the people. Even on a small budget they could have had their clothes on the floor. Otherwise the 3 Americans would have lost their clothes as well. Listening to whatever was on those headphones would'nt have protected clothing. So why did theirs stay? That makes no sense.
And one flaw in the story. The camera guy was filming the vanishing. Alan and Ray discover this but never demand to see the video. I assume this was because it was on a low budget but they could have shown the characters watch it without showing it. They never even asked. It would have been the first thing I did if I knew he filmed it.
Anyway, I enjoyed this movie. Not perfect, but very well done for such a small budget. Not deserving of the hate.