The Thaw (2009)

Director:

Mark A. Lewis

Writers:

Mark A. Lewis (screenplay) &
Michael Lewis (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 September 2010 (Philippines)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

This spring, the sacrifice begins...

Plot:

A research expedition to the Arctic discovers that a melting polar ice cap has released a deadly prehistoric parasite.

Plot Keywords:

Parasite | Helicopter | Student | Quarantine | Global Warming

Awards:

1 win & 13 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Dr. Kruipen
Alexandra Staseson	...	Infected Girl
Brad Dryborough	...	Man With Needle / Fishing Reporter
Greg Rogers	...	Webcam Voice (voice)
William B. Davis	...	Ted
Garry Chalk	...	Jack
Peter Kelamis	...	Mike
Brenda Crichlow	...	Anchorwoman (as Brenda M. Crichlow)
Anne Marie DeLuise	...	Jane (as Anne Marie Deluise)
John Callander	...	Edward
Lamech Kadloo	...	Nuti
Kyle Schmid	...	Federico Fulce
Steph Song	...	Ling Chen
Aaron Ashmore	...	Atom Galen
Evan Adams	...	Professor Anderson
Sebastian Gacki	...	Chad
Martha MacIsaac	...	Evelyn (as Martha Macisaac)
Viv Leacock	...	Bart
Alejandro Rae	...	Rob
Kurt Evans	...	Rescue Co-Pilot
Shawn Stone	...	Rescue Pilot
Michaela Washburn	...	Rescuer Coast Guard
Michael Dobson	...	Radio Caller #1 / Radio Caller #2 (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa Marie Blair	...	Friend #1 (uncredited)
Zachary Throne	...	Dr. David Kruipen (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark A. Lewis

Writing credits
Mark A. Lewis		(screenplay) &
Michael Lewis		(screenplay) (as Michael W. Lewis)

Produced by
Trent Carlson	....	producer
Sidney Chiu	....	associate producer
Blake Corbet	....	executive producer
Ian Goggins	....	executive producer
Stephen Hegyes	....	executive producer
Rob Neilson	....	producer
Brad Pelman	....	executive producer
Andria Spring	....	co-producer
Mary Anne Waterhouse	....	producer
Ki Wight	....	associate producer
Shawn Williamson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Michael Neilson

Cinematography by
Jan Kiesser		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Rob Neilson

Casting by
Candice Elzinga
Heidi Levitt

Production Design by
Michael N. Wong		(as Michael Norman Wong)

Set Decoration by
Terry Joseph

Costume Design by
Patricia Hargreaves

Makeup Department
David Atherton	....	makeup artist: Val Kilmer
Thomas D. Bacho Jr.	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc. (as Tom Bacho)
Mark Ballou	....	makeup effects coordinator: L.A., MastersFX, Inc.
Anthony Allen Barlow	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc. (as Anthony Barlow)
April Boyes	....	makeup artist
Jeff Chow	....	contact lens technician
Joe Colwell	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc.
Charlene Dunn	....	assistant hairdresser
Jack Firman	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc.
Maiko 'Mo' Gomyo	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc. (as Maiko Gomyo)
Maiko 'Mo' Gomyo	....	special makeup effects artist
Terry Hanson	....	hair stylist
Richard Kohlen	....	assistant hairdresser
Todd Masters	....	designer: MastersFX, Inc.
Todd Masters	....	prosthetic makeup effects
Todd Masters	....	supervisor: MastersFX, Inc.
Tana Lynn Moldovanos	....	assistant makeup artist
Yukiyo Okajima	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc. (as Yukio Okajima)
Sarah Pickersgill	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc.
Nicholas Podbrey	....	makeup effects coordinator: MastersFX, Inc.
Werner Pretorius	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc.
Joe Reader	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc. (as Joseph Reader)
Dan Rebert	....	supervisor: MastersFX, Inc.
Lori Sandnes	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc.
Jason Ward	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc.
Vince Yoshida	....	makeup effects: prosthetic artist, MastersFX, Inc.

Production Management
Rob Neilson	....	post-production supervisor
Tracey Renyard	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stacy Fish	....	first assistant director
Julie Hemmerling	....	second assistant director
Trevor Ralph	....	third assistant director
Jody Ryan	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Marty Adamski	....	carpenter
Jean Brophey	....	set dresser
Joshua Cockerham	....	on-set carpenter
Sandrina Crow	....	set dresser
Rob Dampier	....	construction foreman
Lorne Devine	....	set dresser
Christopher di Armani	....	assistant property master
Matthew L. Eisenhauer	....	scenic carpenter
Melanie Haines	....	art department coordinator
Melanie Haines	....	graphics
Robert Houtman	....	sculptor
Jeff Jordan	....	lead metal fabricator (as Geoff Jordan)
Clive Joslin	....	carpenter
Jesse Joslin	....	construction coordinator
Todd Keller	....	on-set dresser
Rick Kramer	....	lead greensman
Gordon Bud Lancaster	....	scenic artist (as Gordon Lancaster)
Steven Lay	....	carpenter
Randy MacKenzie	....	paint foreman
Sergio Mattei	....	lead dresser
Curt Maze	....	set dresser
Keith McCulloch	....	head carpenter
John McIntosh	....	head greens
Tom McKinnon	....	scenic artist
Nathalie Morin	....	assistant set decorator
Sandra Nieuwenuijsen	....	art department coordinator
Sandra Nieuwenuijsen	....	graphics
Rowena O'Connor	....	props buyer
Robert Pratt	....	storyboard artist
Trevor Purvis	....	set dresser
Karl Rempel	....	set dresser
Barry Rennie	....	foreman
Myron Ruth	....	set dec buyer
Charlie Schrodt	....	set dresser
Dan Snelgrove	....	carpenter
Norm Spence	....	scenic artist
Isaac Terpstra	....	set dresser
Ric Walkington	....	property master
Scotty Whittman	....	lead greensman
John Wilcox	....	paint coordinator
Renata Zaleska	....	props buyer

Sound Department
Ian Emberton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matt Hovland	....	adr mixer
Roger Morris	....	dialogue editor
Gina Mueller	....	dialogue editor
Miguel Nunes	....	sound designer
Miguel Nunes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Craig Stauffer	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Don Besse	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Tom Archer	....	digital compositor
Romain Bayle	....	digital matte painter
Pauline Burns	....	visual effects producer
Ryan Cronin	....	senior animator
Chris Doll	....	visual effects artist
Brandon Hines	....	compositor
Nick Hsieh	....	lead compositor: Atmosphere
Andrew Karr	....	CGI supervisor
Jeremy Kehler	....	digital compositor
Daniel Osaki	....	modeler
Michael Ranalletta	....	compositing supervisor
Mark T. Reid	....	digital compositor
Claudio Sepulveda	....	digital intermediate colorist
Perry Hyunwoo Sohn	....	track/matchmove artist
Toby Taplin	....	visual effects supervisor
James Tichenor	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Kirk Jarrett	....	stunt coordinator
Jon Kralt	....	stunt performer
Dwayne Wiley	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Brittany D. Allan	....	grip
Paul Arnel	....	best boy
Melissa Beaupre	....	grip
Monty Black	....	generator operator
Geoff Dane	....	lighting technician
Derek Harding	....	lamp operator
Rayne Holloway	....	best boy
David Kershaw	....	dolly grip
Ryan Ketchum	....	best boy: on set
Alex Kuchera	....	grip
John Kuchera	....	key grip
Leon Lechance	....	grip
Nathan McTague	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Tony Mirza	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Wil Parrott	....	grip
Diyah Pera	....	still photographer
Troy J. Peters	....	gaffer
Dana Powers	....	lighting technician (as Dana Wutzke)
Sasha Proctor	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Rob Sperling	....	grip (as Robert Sperling)
Jeremy Spofford	....	second assistant camera
Gary Stamford	....	set wireman
Pieter Stathis	....	camera operator
Brian Steadman	....	grip
James Swanson	....	set wireman
James Sward	....	rigging
Katie Weekley	....	second assistant camera
David Yeung	....	second assistant camera

Animation Department
Louis Leung	....	animator

Casting Department
Chad Belair	....	background casting
Lauren Fernandes	....	casting associate
James Forsyth	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Grace Anderson	....	costumer (as Grace M. Anderson)
Karen Anshelm	....	truck costumer
Audrey Wong	....	assistant costume designer
Audrey Wong	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Ken MacKenzie	....	imaging technician
Rob Neilson	....	on-line editor
Martin Ostrom	....	laboratory technician
Evan Warner	....	first assistant editor
Attila Kállai	....	editing assistance (uncredited)

Music Department
Marc Baril	....	orchestrator
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Alexandra Hill	....	music supervision executive
Don Mann	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ron Aimer	....	driver
Ron Aimer	....	driver: cast
Stephen Cholakis	....	driver
Louie Hausner	....	transportation captain
Wally Janzen	....	driver: special equipment
Billy McRobbie	....	driver (as William J. Mcrobbie)
Al Parisien	....	driver: special equipment
John Parisien	....	driver: special equipment
John Pickford	....	driver
Robert Quayle	....	driver: special equipment
Herinder Sidhu	....	driver: special equipment
Jason Swetlikoe	....	driver
Jason Swetlikoe	....	driver: cast
John Swetlikoe	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Craig Andrushko	....	production office assistant
Charlene Belleau	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Jahpa Belleau	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Luke Bradshaw	....	script supervisor daily
Paul Burke	....	personal trainer: Val Kilmer
Nick Calderone	....	stand-in
Clayton Carroll	....	assistant location manager
Morley Cruikshank	....	assistant production coordinator
Jane Davidson	....	payroll assistant
Kyle Doig	....	animal trainer
Dawn Dumas	....	animal trainer
Mark Dumas	....	animal trainer
Debra Fallek	....	assistant production coordinator
Dustin Floyd	....	production assistant
Rob Fournier	....	armorer
Michael Grand	....	producer asst
Michael Grand	....	producer asst
Georgina Grinder	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Gordon Grinder	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Tamara Harland	....	production assistant
Stacey Harris	....	production coordinator
Alexandra Hill	....	music supervision executive
Jeff Holloway	....	unit publicist
Jeffrey Hornung	....	assistant to director
Vivien Hulbert	....	production assistant
Danielle Jasinski	....	stand-in
Irvine Johnson	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Lillie Johnson	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Ally Kimura	....	production office intern
Margo MacPherson	....	assistant to producer
David Magee	....	production coordinator
Jessie McAllan	....	director of operations
Lauren McCarthy	....	assistant: Val Kilmer
Natalie Montoya	....	stand-in
Michelle Nieken	....	production assistant
Trina Ogryzek	....	location scout
Jennifer Osborne	....	production coordinator (as Jennifer Aichholz)
David Pollison	....	acquisitions for Ghost House Underground
Alison Rasberry	....	assistant accountant (as Alison Low)
Sheryl Rhodes	....	production coordinator
Robert Robbins Jr.	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Dylan Rockandel	....	production assistant
Melissa Ruffle	....	production accountant
Julie Stangeland	....	production office intern
Stephanie Swedlove	....	assistant: Mr. Hegyes
Michaela Washburn	....	liaison: Alkali Lake
Chris Wilson	....	location manager
Travis Worthington	....	production assistant
Attila Kállai	....	office assistant (uncredited)
Cherie Smid	....	animal trainer (uncredited)

Thanks
Zev Tiefenbach	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Anagram Pictures Inc. (producer)
• Etch Media (in association with)
• Artifact Films (in association with)
• Brightlight Pictures (produced in association with)
• Téléfilm Canada (produced with the participation of) (as Telefilm Canada)
• Corus Entertainment (produced with the participation of) (as Corus Entertainment Inc., through Movie Central [TM])
• Harold Greenberg Fund, The (produced with the participation of) (as Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund Le Fonds Harold Greenberg)
• Thaw Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• Cinestar (2010) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Ghosthouse Underground (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Ghosthouse Underground (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Vietnam) (DVD)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Movie Bank (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2010) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• SP Films (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

• MastersFX (prosthetic & character effects created by)
• Atmosphere Visual Effects (visual effects by)
• Digital Film Central (VFX plate blow-ups)

Other Companies

• Corus Entertainment  developed with the participation of (as Corus Entertainment Inc., through Movie Central [TM])
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)  with the assistance of
• Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC  with the participation of
• British Columbia Film  developed with the assistance of
• Contour Contact Lenses  special lenses
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• DBC Sound  picture editing facility
• Digital Film Central  stock footage optimization by
• Ear Tonic Music  trailer music
• Eastside Communications  publicity: Germany)
• Etch Media  online services provided by
• Film Finances Canada  completion guarantor
• Keystone Entertainment  computer hardware
• Line 21 Media Services Ltd.  closed captioning
• Line 21 Media Services Ltd.  combined dialogue, continuity & spotting list
• NovaStar Digital  ADR
• Post Modern Sound  post-production sound services
• Super Channel  developed with the assistance of
• Tivoli Moving Pictures Caterers  caterer (as Tivoli Catering)
• Union of B.C. Performers  production made possible with the generous support of the membership of

Also Known As:

"Parasites" - Philippines (English title)
"Arctic outbreak" - Norway (English title) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language and brief sexuality

Runtime:

Germany:90 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45515) | Australia:R | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Mexico:B | Brazil:16 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Anagram Pictures Inc.

Trivia:

Since the film is shot near the Esket Reserve in Western Canada, many people of the First Nation were also involved, including Chief Charlene Belleau who blessed the production.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Kruipen:My name is David Kruipen. What is sacrifice? What does it mean to make a real difference? Throughout my life and career I have straddled two worlds. Increasingly I have become respected. Increasingly my books and articles are published and read. Increasingly I have been embraced by policymakers and referenced by bureaucrats, but today I realize that I have... misguided myself. Today I rediscovered what I knew when I was young.

Soundtrack:

Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen

A tasty little film about parasites and global warming.

A Ghosthouse Underground film with Aaron Ashmore from Smallville and Val Kilmer from Batman Forever. Batman, Jimmy Olsen and friends take on a prehistoric parasite that distroys every living thing in its path. A parasite that bites people and lays eggs under their skin. The parasite was frozen underground until now. N...ow it is unleashed and it will devour anything in its path including a pollar bear. With the threat of global warming is it possible for something like that to be unleashed. This film is a great companion peace to Cabin Fever with all of the infections, the big differerce is that people are infected by reanimated bugs not tainted toxic water. Both films are made to make statements about the polluted world around us. This film was amazing with all of the visual effects and make up. People cutting off limbs and getting strange infections after bugs have planted their eggs under their skin. A film full of scum bags and backstabbers fighting for their lives. A absolute guilty pleasure