Director: Hany Abu-Assad
Starring: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Beau Bridges, Dermot Mulroney
Genre: Romance / Drama / Survival Thriller
Runtime: 112 minutes
Release Date: October 6, 2017 (USA)
The Mountain Between Us is a blend of survival thriller and romantic drama based on the novel by Charles Martin. After a plane crash in the snowy wilderness, two strangers — photojournalist Alex Martin (Kate Winslet) and neurosurgeon Ben Bass (Idris Elba) — must depend on each other to survive. With no sign of rescue and extreme conditions around them, their shared struggle leads to an unexpected emotional bond.
The premise offers both physical danger and emotional intimacy, but the film walks a fine line between genres, not always gracefully.
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Strong Lead Performances: Idris Elba and Kate Winslet are both charismatic and talented actors. They bring gravitas and depth to a script that might have otherwise fallen flat. Their chemistry is subtle but believable, especially as the characters begin to rely on each other for more than just survival.
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Cinematic Beauty: Shot in the Canadian Rockies, the film features breathtaking landscapes — vast snowy mountains, frozen lakes, and sweeping aerial shots that capture both isolation and beauty. Cinematographer Mandy Walker creates a visual experience that rivals the drama.
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A Fresh Take on Survival: Rather than focusing solely on action or gore, the film explores the psychological effects of isolation and near-death experiences. It’s less about external danger and more about emotional connection and resilience.
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Uneven Pacing: The first half is tense and engaging, with survival challenges such as injuries, hunger, and the cold. But the second half shifts toward romance, losing some of the urgency and realism that the setup promised.
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Predictable and Sentimental: Once the survival tension eases, the narrative becomes increasingly melodramatic and predictable. The emotional beats feel somewhat manufactured, especially in the final act.
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Limited Character Development: While the leads are compelling, their backstories are only lightly touched upon. A deeper dive into their emotional lives could have made their connection more impactful.
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Rotten Tomatoes: 39% critics / 44% audience
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Metacritic: 48/100
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Box Office: $62 million worldwide
Critics were mixed. While most praised the performances and visuals, many felt the script was undercooked, and the tone uneven. Some appreciated the romantic angle, while others found it distracting from the more promising survival drama.
The Mountain Between Us is a beautifully shot, competently acted film that falls somewhere between survival thriller and romantic drama — but doesn’t fully commit to either. While it has emotional moments and visual appeal, the story feels too safe and formulaic to leave a lasting impression.
