Never once letting up or letting the audience have even a moment of easy respite, Arctic is a relentless and engaging endeavour. Overgård (Mads Mikkelsen) is stranded by himself in the white expanse of the Arctic after a plane crash that is never fully explained.
The film gives little backstory about the plane crash or Overgård’s life past or present but for those with attentive eyes and inquisitive natures, the clues are there. The mountain silhouette on the company logo on clothing and plane. Overgård’s obvious intelligence and the structure he applies to his barren life. This is a man with some working knowledge of the area.
Things come to a head when a mysterious helicopter crashes nearby and the sole survivor comes under the care of Overgård. Once again details of circumstance are buried and require to viewer to stay engaged to find out what is going on.
Arctic decides time and time again throughout the film to give as little backstory as possible. This has the effect of keeping the audience on their toes and helps to keep interest at a peak. The tension also ramps up and you are amazed by how well Mikkelsen sells the struggle, both mental and physical. This film requires much from its audience but rewards that effort.
Rob Hudson
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