Mister Frost (1990)

True, there are plenty of devil-themed movies out there. But what makes "Mister Frost" different is that it looks more at how the Prince of Darkness might try to communicate with humans. Jeff Goldblum plays the title character, in the form of a man who suddenly is living in a villa and admits to having buried 24 corpses in his yard. After two years of silence, he starts talking to psychiatrist Sarah Day (Kathy Baker) and trying to convince her that he is in fact Satan.This movie is sort of the flip side of stories about people who rediscover their faith in God. Sarah gives a speech detailing the fact that humans have wrought more havoc than the Devil seemingly could, Frost starts complaining that science has interfered with progress; he's trying to renew her faith in his existence. This is one charismatic Devil. That is, when he's not possessing people.I certainly liked this movie. Far more perceptive than the average devil-is-trying-to-take-over-the-world story, it manages to be creepy without being particularly violent. Each of the characters looks just a bit menacing at some point or other. Early in the movie, Jeff Goldblum looks almost exactly like Michael Jackson in the "Thriller" video. Really good.Also starring Alan Bates, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Vincent Schiavelli and Charley Boorman (John Boorman's son).

"Mr. Frost" isn't that bad, but really could've used a few problems fixed with it.**SPOILERS**Trying to solve a crime, Inspector Felix Detweiler, (Alan Bates) stops by the home of funeral caretaker Mr. Frost, (Jeff Goldblum) and manages to stumble onto the fact that he's one of the most notorious mass-murderers of the day. Arrested and taken into custody, he is soon transferred to the St. Claire Mental Hospital where he is put into the care of Dr. Sarah Day, (Kathy Baker) owner Raymond Reynhardt, (Roland Giraud) and her staff. Attempting to get through to get through to him, she is constantly told that he is Satan and his great evil puts her in danger. The more time spent in his graces, the more he makes her believe that his story is true and that he may in fact be the Antichrist. Trying to decide how to deal with his threats, they try a few radical ideas and finally discover his real motive.The Good News: This wasn't all that bad. The fact that this takes a really unconventional approach to the fact of the protagonists identity. There's a really new angle here, as it's not entirely clear if it's just playing into the suggestion or if it's actually true. There's enough given for both angles quite efficiently, and they can't be spoiled but they do manage to make it seem like it could go either way. That is a wonderful skill for the film to have as it really manages to build up some suspense during the middle section of the film. When all the events start to unravel, there's plenty of reasons to believe either version, and that is what holds the film over. It's quite new to have a film use this approach, as they'll usually give one subtle reason and just make it all the creative. This even has a few really chilling moments to go along with it, including the root-top jumping encounter and the showdowns with the influenced patient with potential victims that are pretty chilling. There's only one other positive aspect, which is the rather quickly-paced last half of the film. The attempts to diagnose and find the problem are really toned down when compared to the beginning half, the displays of power start to sweep into the frame and it becomes a little more frantic in it's quest to get it through. This finally gets the film into the watchable realm and is it's best feature. These here are what work for the film.The Bad News: This here does have some problems with it. One of the main flaws is it's slow, down-tuned way of going about things. It's not really an easy film to get into if a requirement is a lot of excitement to get into it. The film's approach is so low-key and unaffecting that it's possible to forget the film's events shortly afterward, especially when nothing really leaps out with it's effects. The majority of everything in the film is done through dialog and explanations for what has happened before the previous scene. There's a really large amount of analysis going on in here that it can just take a lot out since the action is simply non-existent for most of the running time, and when it actually decides to spring it out, there's nothing that really sticks out. The other really big flaw is it's ending is simply confusing. There's nothing that happens here which makes any sense at all, as it just simply happens to contain so much nonsensical ideas and actions that it's a real blow to the film. This is the biggest flaw, aside from the lifeless narrative, and will be responsible for most of the negative feelings toward the film.The Final Verdict: With only a few problems keeping this one down, this one's kind of in the middle of the road. It does have enough good points to be watchable, leaving this one only for the curious or completists of the style or genre.Rated R: Language and Violence

This movie is remarkably neglected. I seem to be the only person I've ever met that has seen it. I think it's freaking brilliant. Granted I'm a fan of Jeff Goldblum,but that said, it is a stellar creepy performance. Release it on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The script is beautiful. The sets are sublime. The tension is like his baked Alaska. The performances are tremendous. Kathy Bates (of Picket Fences fame) plays a wonderful foil to Mr. Goldblum's performance. He is both charming and unnerving. The questions he allows to resonate on the nature of good and evil are with me years after watching this film. I continually recommend it to my friends yet no one can find it. It is a defining moment in his career that deserves attention. Please, for the love of whatever you love, re-release this film on DVD!

Throughout this movie, the best thing, by far, is the performance of Jeff Goldblum. But, I'm not quite sure it's enough to carry this film. It tries very hard to be very stylish and odd and freaky, but falls short with a concept that, done correctly, could have been quite intense. The picture is intentionally very subtle, but is riddled at times with clichéd horror movie tactics that don't quite fit. It almost feels as if the only person who put any effort into their performance was Goldblum and that the director and writer felt that simply being stylish and setting a dark undertone would be enough. Goldblum's portrayal of The Prince of Darkness has to be the quirkiest portrayal ever put on film. He fills the performance with a subtle charisma and his usual odd behavior and I was really hoping that he would just rise up at the end of the film and kill all of the other actors with a grin or a raise of his eyebrow. All of the flaws of this film considered, it could have been saved by a really gripping ending... but there is none. The film builds slowly, mostly due to the performance of Goldblum, and you are lead to believe that we'll have some sort of great cataclysmic ending... but there is none... it just sort of ends. If you are a fan of Jeff Goldblum, you'll enjoy his performance. If not, you will probably find the film boring and tedious.