2025 Thriller “Dead of Winter” Starring Emma Thompson Released
The thriller “Dead of Winter,” featuring Emma Thompson, was released recently and has quickly climbed the ranks of trending titles on HBO Max. With this week’s snowstorm still fresh in our minds, it’s somewhat reassuring to see Thompson face even more extreme winter conditions on screen.
Directed by Brian Kirk and written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Reeve, the film centers on Barb, a widow portrayed by Thompson. She journeys to northern Minnesota to scatter her late husband’s ashes but finds herself in peril when she discovers a suspicious man in a camouflage jacket (Mark Menchaca) and a young woman named Leah (Laurel Marsden) tied up in his cabin. Things escalate when Camo Jacket and his wife (played by Judy Greer) learn of Barb’s presence, sparking a tense pursuit. Will she manage to fend off the attackers and save Leah? You’ll have to watch to find out.
Interestingly, although “Dead of Winter” is set in snowy Minnesota, the filmmakers had to scout for snow elsewhere. The movie was actually filmed in Finland and Germany, standing in for Minnesota.
Filming Locations for “Dead of Winter”
The filming took place in late February 2024, primarily in Koli, Finland, and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Outdoor scenes were shot in Koli National Park, located in Finland’s North Karelia region.
Thompson expressed her fondness for filming in Finland, even penning a letter of thanks to the country that was published in a local newspaper, Helsingin Sanoma. She mentioned the lack of snow in Minnesota due to climate change, leading to the decision to film all outdoor scenes in Finland. Upon arriving in Koli, she remarked on the stunning landscape, which only heightened her appreciation for the experience.
In her letter, she described the challenges of filming under harsh weather conditions and praised the Finnish crew’s dedication. They worked tirelessly to maintain continuity, often transporting fresh snow to replace melted areas. “If the weather was wet, we brushed off the muck and replaced it with dry snow. If it got too soggy, we shoveled it repeatedly,” she noted. Despite the challenges, having plenty of snow around was a great comfort to the crew.
For controlled indoor and some outdoor scenes, “Dead of Winter” was filmed at MMC Film & TV Studio in Cologne, Germany, with additional shots taken in Bonn.
