Dead of Winter (1987)

A fledgling actress is lured to a remote mansion for a screen-test, soon discovering she is actually a prisoner in the middle of a blackmail plot.

Director:

Arthur Penn

Writers:

Marc Shmuger, Mark Malone,

Stars:

Mary Steenburgen, Roddy McDowall, Jan Rubes

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mary Steenburgen	...	Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
Roddy McDowall	...	Mr. Murray
Jan Rubes	...	Dr. Joseph Lewis
William Russ	...	Rob Sweeney
Ken Pogue	...	Officer Mullavy
Wayne Robson	...	Officer Huntley
Mark Malone	...	Roland McGovern
Michael Copeman	...	Highway Patrolman
Sam Malkin	...	Gas Jock
Pamela Moller	...	Woman at Audition
Dwayne McLean	...	Killer
Paul Welsh	...	New Year's Eve Reveler

Storyline

Katie McGovern is a struggling actress living with her husband and her student brother, who is visiting. She attends an audition that she found in the paper and is selected to shoot a short video which will be sent to the director for his approval. Mr. Murray, the man holding the audition, picks Katie up and takes her to a remote mansion where they shoot the video. Katie is selected to replace the previous lead in the film who looks remarkably like her. Soon, however, things begin to look as if they are not what they seem. Katie soon realizes she is in danger and attempts escape.

---

Plot Keywords:

actress | mansion | audition | blackmail | danger | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Froid comme la mort

Filming Locations:

Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Gross:

$2,413,427 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the co-writers, Mark Malone, also has a small roll as Katie's brother Roland.

---

Quotes

Telephone Operator: There is no 311 area code.

---

Connections

References Rear Window (1954)

User Reviews

Dead of boredom.

Unconvincing potboiler takes a ridiculous premise and does nothing to enhance it. Steenburgen, a fine actress in numerous other films, can be forgiven for accepting this showy 'triple' role; suffice to say, she's not responsible for the resulting blandness. Roddy McDowall tries hard to enliven the supposedly creepy plot shenanigans, but his efforts are undermined by the fact that his compatriot, Jan Rubes, had just played Santa Claus in ONE MAGIC Christmas, far more convincingly in that than as a villainous mastermind here.

Esteemed veteran Arthur Penn took over directing after first-timer (and co-screenwriter) Marc Shmuger was fired. His heart doesn't seem in it, however, and the lackadaisical effort wastes some fine sets and wintry Ontario locations. Note co-scripter Mark Malone's amateurish stumbling and bumbling as Steenburgen's brother.