Review: Whiteout

Do you fancy a trip to the South Pole? If so, then this is the film for you. In fact, the majestic ice-scapes of Antarctica are the only reason to venture into this muddled potboiler, says Rashid Irani.

Whiteout
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Tom Skerrit
Direction: Dominic Sena
Rating: **

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Do you fancy a trip to the South Pole? If so, then this is the film for you. In fact, the majestic ice-scapes of Antarctica are the only reason to venture into this muddled potboiler.

Adapted from a graphic novel, Whiteout also has the dubious distinction of being scripted by two sets of brothers. After a fairly tense prologue involving a Russian plane crashing into the snowy wastes, the narrative whisks forward by 50 years.

The rest of the connect-the-dots storyline concerns a US marshal (Beckinsale) who must unravel a murder mystery before the advent of the titular winter storm. As secondary characters die around her, Ms. Sherlock Holmes is stalked by an ice-axe wielding psychopath. The ensuing showdown provides a scare or two, but it’s really nothing we haven’t seen before.

Just in case you are wondering why the law enforcer is stationed at such a godforsaken outpost, director Sena (Gone in 60 Seconds) resorts to flashbacks about her botched past mission.

Kate Beckinsale, seen to much better advantage in films like Underworld (2003), barely passes muster. Dull and dithering best describes this movie.