Mister Frost 1990

Call Evil By It's Proper Name.

6.1 / 10   38 vote(s)
Horror Thriller Drama

Frost is arrested and committed for murder after he is apprehended burying his victims in the garden. However, even while under psychiatric care and tight hospital security, it becomes obvious that Mr. Frost is not all he seems to be.

Release Date 1990-04-10
Runtime 1h 44m
Directors Philippe Setbon, Guy Mazarguil, Pablo Fréville, Jean-Christophe Barret, Dominique Brenguier
Producers Claude Ravier, Jeffrey L. Ringler, Michael Holzman, Xavier Gélin, Stéphane Marsil, Ron Gell, John Simenon
Writers Louise Vincent, Derry Hall, Philippe Setbon, Brad Lynch

These days we have no sympathy for the devil

A nonchalant man in England (Jeff Goldblum) is discovered to have 24 bodies buried on his property and is interned at a mental asylum in France for examination. The detective who brought him in warns of his diabolic origins (Alan Bates) while the female psychiatrist assigned to his case (Kathy Baker) is intrigued by his life-threatening eccentricities.

“Mister Frost” (1990) is an artistic supernatural drama/thriller with a smidgen of horror. Comparable films include "Lisa and the Devil" (1973), "The Evil" (1978), “Manhunter” (1986) and “The Devil’s Nightmare” (1971), but don’t expect overt horror, particularly like in the latter movie.

The three main cast members are fine in their roles and the set-up is certainly interesting, but I didn’t like how things pan out in the second half. So, the beginning is promising, but the way the story evolves is relatively dull with an unsatisfying close. It doesn’t help that Mr. Frost’s choice of Dr. Sarah Day to prove such-and-such doesn’t make much sense.

For a superior supernatural thriller with Jeff in the lead, check out the underrated “Hideaway” (1995). However, if you like the cast and favor psychological horror with artistic flair, give it a try. Some people hail it.

The film runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot in Paris, France.

GRADE: C+

Wuchak