Emma Thompson stars in this white-knuckle thriller that features a layered performance, and some stand-out moments.

With Finland standing in for Minnesota, Thompson braves the cold as Barb who sets out for Lake Hilda for personal reasons. A goodbye needs to be made.

Along the way, she has an unnerving encounter with a man in a Camo Jacket (Mark Menchaca), and soon finds herself enmeshed in trying to stop a kidnapping scheme. It seems Camo, and a woman in Purple (Judy Greer) have kidnapped Leah (Laurel Marsden) for a nefarious purpose.

Running over icy, if slightly familiar ground, the thriller excels with its characters. The three women are all strong characters, each of them at different places in their lives, and Thompson absolutely shines.

Despite the film’s runtime, just over an hour and a half, Thompson’s Barb has plenty of room to breathe and there are some powerful moments in those character beats. The recollection of memories and the way they play out on her face, the looks of fear as she discovers the kidnap, the acceptance as she realizes she’s the one who has to do something about it, and the fact that she’s aging, and has all the aches to go with it – all brilliantly done.

I love watching all of these things play out across Thompson’s expressions. And I love that Kirk lets the film have those moments, lets us settle with Barb, get to know her, and ultimately care for her, her story, and the journey this film takes her on.

These moments, interwoven with her attempts to help Leah, and the reveal of the reason why she’s come to Lake Hilda, make for a really solid watch.

The cinematography and framing reveal the wintery landscape, greying with snow and age (?), while the memories are bright and colorful, even set amongst the snow. Here we see a younger Barb (Gaia Wise) and we see what has led Thompson’s Barb to this moment.

Thompson and Greer go toe-to-toe, and this is Judy Greer like you’ve never seen her. Known primarily for her comedic turns, Greer’s purple lady is as frightening as her plan. She’s scary and unhinged, without chewing scenery and being melodramatic. She’s a great villain.

Kirk delivers an engaging thriller that hinges on some pulse-pounding moments, and a truly honest, and entertaining performance by Thompson (love her not quite swearing). This is very much her film, and Barb is a great character. Thompson doesn’t, and shouldn’t have to, flinch from the fact that she, like everyone else, is aging and Barb goes through it in this film.

We are not only giving a solidly made thriller, but a well-crafted emotional arc for both story and Barb.

Dead of Winter heads screens this week, check your local listings and get out to a theater!