The Iceman (2012)★ 7.2/10

The director adopts a restrained approach—no flashy exposition, no special effects, no dramatic highs—yet the film’s weight is undeniable. The tone is grim right from the opening, and even the romantic scenes between Deborah and Richard feel hollow, with the closing theme deepening the melancholy.

Adapted from true events, the film tracks the transformation of a killer who froze his victims to mask their time of death, and Michael Shannon is perfectly cast with his gaunt face and intense eyes fitting the chilling role.