Infinite Storm

Directed by Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert, Infinite Storm follows Naomi Watts’ Pam Bales as she embarks on a routine climb and soon encounters a stranger (Billy Howle’s John) during a deadly blizzard. Filmmakers Szumowska and Englert, armed with a script by Joshua Rollins, deliver an erratically-paced drama that holds a fair degree of promise in its early stages, as the movie boasts a typically commanding turn by Watts that’s heightened by the perilous situation in which her protagonist finds herself – with the watchable vibe perpetuated by an emphasis on Pam’s compelling solo exploits on the aforementioned climb. It’s clear, then, that Infinite Storm‘s impact and effectiveness takes a hit with Howle’s needlessly mysterious figure, as John’s inexplicable behaviour and refusal to offer up any personal details (including his real name!) lends the proceedings an almost spooky feel that doesn’t pay off in the slightest. (The situation is so extreme, in fact, that it’s impossible not to wonder if John even exists, or if he’s an escaped axe murderer, or something equally over-the-top.) By the time the unsatisfying final stretch rolls around (ie why is he still refusing to tell her his name??), Infinite Storm has confirmed its place as a decent-enough survival story that probably would’ve fared better had it focused solely on Watts’ sympathetic character.

**1/2 out of ****