Jack Frost (1997): The World’s Most P***ed Off Snowcone!
This film is not to be confused with the other Jack Frost film from 1998. This Jack Frost was released in 1997 and is a black comedy, b-movie slasher. It spins the yarn where a crazed serial killer gets genetically fused with snow in a freak acid accident. He comes back from the dead, still homicidal as before his demise, as a crazed killer snowman!
Could this movie be a part of your Christmas tradition for years to come? Read on…
Plot
On a cold December night, a state execution transfer vehicle carrying notorious serial killer Jack Frost crosses into the quiet backwater town of Snowmonton. Jack had eluded police for years. Leaving a trail of 38 bodies across 11 states he is finally arrested by Sam Tiler, the local sheriff. This psycho maniac is scheduled to be executed at midnight. He manages to escape, after killing the guard, when the vehicle crashes into a genetic research truck.
Jack Frost is then sprayed by chemicals from inside the offending truck. This causes him to dissolve and fuse with the snow. Despite news reports of Jack’s demise, Sam cannot forget Jack’s threats of vengeance. The story of Jack Frost is a holiday b-movie horror which tells the story of a psychopath who returns from the dead. He becomes a mutant snowman, seeking revenge on those who wronged him.
Review
Jack Frost is your typical b-movie horror. It’s choc-a-block with cheesy, over-the-top kills and campy dialogue. If this is your bag, then this is the movie for you. From the close-ups of the white-mittened hands of Jack Frost as he hacks and slashes prey, to the ridiculous genetic engineering plot line, this film is so bad it’s good.
Some may find the scene where Jack Frost kills Jill (played by Shannon Elizabeth) in poor taste. Frost rams Jill against the shower wall repeatedly, killing her in the process. His carrot nose missing from his face, insinuating it migrated beneath the belt. If this bothers you, despite my praise of the film above, you may want to give this one a miss.
I particularly enjoyed the opening credits. We hear a cockney narrator telling an overly gory story to a child. This reminded me much of the creepy caretaker, voice-acted by Nigel Planer, in the TV series Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids, who frames the story of each episode. This really cracked me up!
Overall, this film is pretty funny, and I would definitely watch it again. It is one of my favourite holiday-horror movies. If you like holiday horror, feel free to check out my list of R. L. Stine books to read this Christmastime. If you would like to watch this film, then you can currently watch it on Plex for free (with ads).