Genre: Horror | Thriller | Survival
Directed by: Xavier Gens
Starring: Alice Braga, Boyd Holbrook, John Gallagher Jr., Zoë Chao
Runtime: 1h 45min
Release Date: February 2025
Studio: IFC Midnight / Shudder Original
That’s the haunting mantra that defines Cold Meat (2025)—a tightly wound, high-altitude survival horror that traps its characters in a snowstorm of secrets, paranoia, and brutal instinct. Directed by Xavier Gens, known for his visceral work in Frontier(s) and The Divide, the film is equal parts psychological tension and icy isolation.
Set in the unforgiving Colorado Rockies during a record-breaking winter storm, the story follows Nina Valdez (Alice Braga), a recently divorced emergency physician whose cross-country drive turns into a nightmare after she picks up a stranded hitchhiker, Jonah (Boyd Holbrook). When a sudden blizzard forces them off the road, they seek shelter in a seemingly abandoned diner tucked deep in the mountains.
But the diner is not empty—and not everyone is who they claim to be.
Trapped inside by snow, hunger, and rising tension, the group’s survival hinges not on food or fire, but trust. As night falls and the temperature drops, so do their facades—revealing the darkest corners of desperation and human nature.
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Alice Braga carries the film with controlled intensity. Her portrayal of Nina balances grit with vulnerability, making her both sympathetic and formidable.
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Boyd Holbrook delivers an unsettlingly ambiguous performance as Jonah—equal parts charm and threat.
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John Gallagher Jr. adds unpredictable energy as a diner employee with something to hide.
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Zoë Chao brings emotional nuance as a woman searching for her missing brother, caught in the psychological spiral.
Xavier Gens leans heavily into claustrophobia and mood. The snowed-in setting becomes a character itself—howling wind, rattling windows, frozen breath, and a growing sense of inescapability. The cinematography is cold and sterile, contrasting violently with the characters’ mounting panic and emotional decay.
The film’s minimalist soundtrack, composed by Rob Simonsen, creates an atmosphere of dread without overwhelming the dialogue or visuals.
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Trust vs. survival
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Moral ambiguity in life-or-death situations
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Isolation’s psychological toll
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Human nature stripped bare in crisis
The title, Cold Meat, becomes a metaphor not just for physical hunger, but for emotional and ethical decay. Who we become when the world outside—and inside—freezes.
Strong central performance from Alice Braga
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Tense, steadily escalating psychological suspense
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Atmospheric visuals and use of setting
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Sharp pacing with clever twists
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Unsettling ambiguity until the very end
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Some character motivations remain underexplored
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Minimal backstory may frustrate viewers who want more exposition
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The third act, while shocking, may feel abrupt or overly bleak to some
Cold Meat (2025) is a lean, mean, and disturbingly quiet thriller that proves horror doesn’t need ghosts or gore to be terrifying—just human desperation and a locked door in the dead of winter. With chilling performances and stark tension, it leaves your nerves frayed and your heart racing.
It won’t be for everyone—but for fans of slow-burn survival horror like The Lodge, The Thing, or Wind Chill, it’s a must-watch.
