Cold Pursuit Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Liam Neeson plows through drug dealers because someone mistook his son for a junkie, and then everyone dies in a hilarious snow-covered misunderstanding.

🍿 Cold Pursuit: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Father’s Grief and Vengeance

Nels Coxman, a snowplow driver in the Colorado Rockies, lives a quiet life until his son, Kyle, is murdered by a drug cartel. Initially ruled an overdose, Nels discovers the truth and decides to take revenge. Consumed by grief and rage, he embarks on a mission to dismantle the criminal organization responsible for his son’s death.

Dismantling the Cartel

Nels systematically hunts down and eliminates those involved in his son’s murder, working his way up the cartel’s hierarchy. With each kill, he disposes of the bodies in a similar fashion, creating a growing pile of evidence that attracts the attention of law enforcement and rival criminal factions. His actions inadvertently ignite a turf war between the Viking’s cartel and a rival Ute gang.

A Turf War Ignites

The Viking, a meticulous and ruthless drug lord, mistakenly believes the Native American gang is responsible for the deaths. This misunderstanding leads to a brutal and escalating conflict between the two criminal organizations, with Nels caught in the middle. The violence escalates as each side seeks to eliminate the other, resulting in widespread chaos and bloodshed.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Nels Coxman (Liam Neeson): A grieving snowplow driver who seeks revenge against the drug dealers responsible for his son’s murder.
• Trevor ‘Viking’ Calcote (Tom Bateman): The manically unpredictable gangster and drug lord whose actions ignite a turf war.
• Grace Coxman (Laura Dern): Nels’ wife, who struggles to cope with the grief of losing their son and leaves Nels.
• Kyle Coxman (Micheál Neeson): Nels’ son, whose murder sets off Nels’ quest for vengeance.
• Kim Dash (Emmy Rossum): One of the detectives investigating the series of murders, though her character arc is not fully realized.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Nels Coxman: “I’m gonna kill him, Brock.” – Nels informs his brother about his intentions after his son’s death.
• Brock: “Chicken wire?” – Brock’s reaction to how Nels disposed of the bodies, highlighting the dark humor.
• Viking: “I’m a businessman. I provide a service. People want drugs, I sell them drugs.” – Viking attempts to justify his criminal actions and lack of moral responsibility.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $32,138,862
• Worldwide Gross: $76,419,755

💥 Cold Pursuit Reviews

Personal Review

I went into Cold Pursuit expecting another Liam Neeson action flick, but I was pleasantly surprised. The dark humor caught me off guard, and I found myself laughing at moments that were totally inappropriate. The whole turf war between Viking and the Native American gang was absurdly entertaining. Plus, the way they listed the dead characters in the credits was a nice touch. I felt like the movie made fun of itself, and that’s what I liked the most. I recommend it for people who enjoy films like Fargo or In Bruges.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Liam Neeson action thrillers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy dark comedies”
  • “Those who like Coen Brothers-style films”
  • “People interested in revenge stories with a twist”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Mature themes”

Professional Reviews

• ScreenCrush: “While tonally uneven, Cold Pursuit delivers a surprising blend of dark humor and brutal action, elevated by Tom Bateman’s scene-stealing performance as the eccentric villain, Viking.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Cold Pursuit is a competently made, if somewhat generic, revenge thriller that benefits from Liam Neeson’s reliably stoic presence and a sprinkling of Coen Brothers-esque dark humor.
• RogerEbert.com: “The film aims for Coen Brothers-esque dark comedy but doesn’t quite stick the landing. Neeson is solid, but the script struggles to balance violence and humor effectively.

Audience Reactions

The dark humor surprised me and caught me off guard.: Viewers found the film to be unexpectedly funny and a good mix of action and dark comedy.

The acting was really good, especially the villain Viking.: Many praised the cast for their performances, and thought Tom Bateman did a great job.

Overall Consensus: Cold Pursuit is a darkly comedic action thriller that deviates from the typical Liam Neeson revenge formula, dividing audiences with its blend of violence and humor. While some found it entertaining and unique, others felt it missed the mark in balancing its tones.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Cold Pursuit is a remake of the 2014 Norwegian film ‘In Order of Disappearance’.”
• “Director Hans Petter Moland also directed the original Norwegian film, a rare occurrence for remakes.”
• “The film was shot in British Columbia, Canada, after Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, denied the production a permit because of objections to the antagonist of the film being an aboriginal Canadian.”
• “Micheál Neeson plays Liam Neeson’s son in the movie, adding a layer of poignancy since Micheál’s mother (Liam Neeson’s wife) had tragically passed away a few years prior to filming.”

🖥️ How to Watch Cold Pursuit?

Cold Pursuit is available to rent or buy on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable options. Unfortunately, as of October 26, 2023, it is not currently available on any major subscription streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Cold Pursuit, you might like these similar films:

• In Order of Disappearance (2014): The original Norwegian film that Cold Pursuit is a remake of, sharing the same dark humor and revenge plot.
• Fargo (1996): Shares a similar darkly comedic tone and a crime story set against a snowy backdrop, with ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances.
• Taken (2008): Another Liam Neeson action thriller centered around a father seeking revenge for harm done to his family.
• Layer Cake (2004): Features a calculating, unpredictable criminal underworld and unexpected violence, similar to the world portrayed in Cold Pursuit.

🛒 Cold Pursuit Related Products

• Cold Pursuit [Blu-ray]: Blu-ray edition of the movie. The definitive home entertainment experience. Includes bonus features.
• Funko Pop! Movies: Liam Neeson Cold Pursuit – Nels Coxman: Stylized collectible figure of Liam Neeson’s character, Nels Coxman. Perfect for display and collecting.
• Snow Plow Truck Toy – Kehoe Edition: A diecast model of Nels Coxman’s snowplow from the movie, featuring authentic details.
• Official Cold Pursuit Poster: High-quality print of the original movie poster, available in various sizes.

🎧 Soundtrack

Cold Pursuit features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “2000 Miles” – performed by The Pretenders
• “Hurt” – performed by Johnny Cash
• “White Rabbit” – performed by Jefferson Airplane

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Liam Neeson clarifies controversial revenge remarks: ‘I’m not a racist’ | GMA

Remember the controversy around Liam Neeson during the ‘Cold Pursuit’ release? This video is a direct response from him on Good Morning America. It’s worth watching to get his side of the story!

Cold Pursuit (2019) Carnage Count

Curious how many people bite the dust in ‘Cold Pursuit’? This ‘Carnage Count’ video tallies them all up. If you’re into action movies, you might be surprised by the final number!

Liam Neeson’s Cold Pursuit – Let Me Explain

Want a breakdown of the Liam Neeson controversy surrounding ‘Cold Pursuit’? This video does a great job of explaining the situation and its context. It gives good insight in to both sides of the issue.

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