Let’s talk snowy movies. In Upstate New York, we’ve got about two or three more months of brutal winter ahead. The holiday cheer is gone, the decorations are packed away, and all we’re left with is freezing temperatures and endless shoveling. For those of us who are familiar with these winter conditions, we know that there’s something haunting about the silence. Unlike the jolly spirit of Christmas, it holds a quiet stillness – unsettling in the most captivating way. That very specific eerie cold aesthetic makes a perfect backdrop for some of the most memorable films of all time –The Thing, Fargo, and The Shining, to name a few biggies.
Today, I’ve got you covered with four great snowy movies that you might have missed. They aren’t super super obscure, but they don’t get nearly enough love. These 4 films have two things in common: a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90% or higher and a lot of snow.
1. SnowPiercer (2013)
Where to watch: Netflix or RentalÂ
Genre: Action/Sci-fi
Director: Bong Joon HoÂ
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%Â
Official Synopsis: In a future where a failed climate-change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.
Why you should watch it: I shouldn’t have to explain who Bong Joon-Ho is, but here’s a quick rundown for those who might not know. Bong is a South Korean filmmaker who broke out to the general US audience film consciousness in 2019 with Parasite, which swept the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. While Parasite catapulted him into the mainstream, he has been making interesting genre-bending films for decades.
Bong has directed seven feature films, with an eighth—starring Robert Pattinson—set to release in 2025. Of those seven, only two are in English: Snowpiercer and Okja (available on Netflix). While I highly recommend exploring his entire filmography, I understand that diving into foreign films can feel like a big commitment, especially if you only watch a few movies every month. That’s why Snowpiercer is a great way to get your foot in the door —a gripping introduction to one of the most talented filmmakers working today.
Snowpiercer isn’t just an action-packed thrill ride; it also features some clever social commentary on climate change and class. If you like the movie Speed and also like to indulge in a movie with some deeper ideas from time to time, this is for you. He packages these themes in a creative, clever box, and it is so literal and exciting that it does not come off as pretentious to me. The story is captivating on the surface but allows you to also get heady with it if you want to
And let’s talk about Chris Evans. This might be his best performance outside of the Captain America persona—a rare display of true character acting where he’s almost unrecognizable. In this film, he sheds the cocky-jock charm and fully immerses himself in this gritty, dirty, and desperate character. I would love to see more stuff like this from him.
If you’re looking for something to watch that’s both thought-provoking and entertaining, Snowpiercer is a great option.
2. Wind River (2017)
Where to Watch: RentalÂ
Genre: Crime/ThrillerÂ
Director: Taylor Sheridan
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% (Audience)
Official Synopsis: A wildlife officer who is haunted by a tragedy that happened because of him teams up with an FBI agent to solve the murder of a young woman on a Wyoming Native American reservation and hopes to get redemption from his past regrets.
Why you should watch it: Wind River is an exceptionally well-written thriller by one of America’s most talented screenwriters, Taylor Sheridan, who is best known for Yellowstone.
This list is starting to feel like Marvel Stars: Actually Acting. Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen deliver some of the best performances of their careers, proving they’re capable of much more than superhero roles. Their natural chemistry adds depth and authenticity to their characters, helping elevate the story beyond a standard crime thriller.
While it may not reinvent the wheel, I would give every measurable element of this film very high marks: Script A, Cinematography A, Acting A, Sound Design A, Entertainment Value A. It feels classical in its tone, setting, and structure, but it features a few very well-constructed action sequences and goes in some directions that you will not expect. The film perfectly captures that haunting stillness of winter, which I mentioned in the introduction.
It’s an excellent choice for a cold night when you’re looking for something to get your blood pumping. Every time I revisit this film, I can’t help but wish Sheridan had stuck with filmmaking instead of shifting his focus to television. He’s one of the best screenwriters working today, and while his TV ventures have been wildly successful, I’d love to see him return to projects like this. Also, a quick shoutout to his underrated on-screen work—fans of Sons of Anarchy might recognize him as Sheriff Hale.
3. The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
Where to Watch: RentalÂ
Genre: Horror/MysteryÂ
Director: Jim Cummings
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%Â
Official Synopsis: A police officer struggles not to give in to the paranoia that grips his small mountain town as bodies turn up after each full moon.
Why you should watch it: Small towns make the perfect setting for a snowy movie. Whatever the reason, The Wolf of Snow Hollow uses that small mountain town setting masterfully to build tension and atmosphere. This is an excellent pick if you like dipping your toe into horror but don’t want to be full-blown scared at any point. While it leans more toward a paranoid mystery than a horror film, it keeps you on edge of your seat with its tight script and unsettling tone.
At its core, this is a new and inventive take on the werewolf genre. This monster classification has gotten quite stale and is honestly pretty dead, in my opinion. With the exception of An American Werewolf in London, there haven’t been many good or even interesting movies since the original came out in 1941. This doesn’t rely on the usual werewolf troupes – the blend of dark humor and suspense was really refreshing to see when it was released in 2020. I think it kind of got buried in the weird movie times of 2020 and never got the respect it deserved.
Jim Cummings not only stars in the film but also wrote and directed it, and you can tell. There’s a distinct cohesion and passion in movies where a single person drives the creative vision. Unlike projects that feel pieced together by committee, this film has a singular voice and style that make it all the more compelling to me. If you’re looking for something fresh, eerie, and well-crafted, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is worth the watch.
4. Hundreds of Beavers (2022)
Where to watch: Tubi, PrimeÂ
Genre: Comedy/ActionÂ
Director: Mike CheslikÂ
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Official Synopsis: A drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero and become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.
Why you should watch it: There’s a reason this is the last film on my list—it’s not for everyone. This is a black-and-white, primarily silent slapstick comedy. While that might sound like a tough sell, it’s also one of the most creative, inventive, and bizarre films I’ve ever seen. It’s rapid-fire bits for the entire runtime, and no, every gag might not land, but there are so many packed into each scene that it doesn’t matter. There are more bits than beavers in this movie—and there are a lot of beavers. This has the chaotic energy of Airplane! mixed with the surreal physical comedy of classic Looney Tunes. It’s an absurd, slapstick fever dream that somehow works.
Sometimes, you will see a director make a few great movies, then get a big-budget studio movie and completely lose the sauce. I can’t believe this entire film was made for just $150K. There is something about having to stretch a smaller budget that is actually good for creativity. What this filmmaker was able to do is a testament to what can be achieved with a big imagination and a little resourcefulness. If you’re open to something different, I recommend checking this out.
