Centigrade – Movie Review (3/5)

CENTIGRADE is a new survival thriller from IFC Midnight. Only two actors carry the movie and they’re both great. It’s intense and claustrophobic but also a bit too long. Read our full Centigrade review here!

CENTIGRADE is a new survival thriller that works remarkably well. It’s from IFC Midnight which always means a certain level of quality. This movie is no exception.

Also, it’s based on real events and features just two characters. As a whole, the movie is a good fifteen minutes too long, but it’s also wonderfully intense and relatable.

Continue reading our full Centigrade review below.

The true story behind Centigrade movie

While Centigrade is based on real events, I don’t actually know much about those events. Basically, you’ll just have to buy whatever they’re telling you during both the opening and closing credits. And I do!

The thing that really makes Centigrade work as a “based on a true story”-movie is the fact that the people make both good and bad choices. After all, that’s just human nature. We tend to act in ways that aren’t always in our own best interest.

Also, at the same time, we can find remarkable strengths and resilience when it really matters.

The very small cast

To call the cast of Centigrade small is almost an understatement. Throughout the movie, we only ever meet two people. We “wake up” in a car with them and never actually come into contact with other people. Obviously, we know that other people exist and we can sense them at times.

Honestly, saying anything more will only spoil the movie, so I will leave it at that.

My point is simply that Centigrade is about two people who are portrayed wonderfully by Genesis Rodriguez and Vincent Piazza. Both characters in this dramatization will do things (or not do something) that should irritate you.

However, the actors do an amazing job while having only each other and the inside of a car to really work with.

You should recognize Genesis Rodriguez from movies such as The Last Stand (2013), Tusk (2014), and Yoga Hosers (2016). Also, she’s in the Quibi series The Fugitive (2020-). Vincent Piazza was most recently in the vampire series The Passage but has been in various movies and TV series (such as Boardwalk Empire) as well.

Watch Centigrade on VOD & on Hulu

Centigrade was directed by Brendan Walsh and the screenplay was written by Daley Nixon. This is the first feature film for Daley Nixon and Brendan Walsh in their respective roles.

However, Brendan Walsh directed several episodes of Nurse Jackie and has been a Second Unit or Assistant Director on many productions. Including Nurse Jackie prior to trying his hand as the primary director. As an assistant director, Walsh also worked on The Westler (2008) and The Bourne Legacy (2012).

If you’re a fan of survival movies where the protagonists are trapped somewhere, then Centigrade is definitely for you. It is a bit too long towards the end and you will probably be annoyed at times. Then again, isn’t that just part of this subgenre?! Pretty much. So go ahead and check it out.

Centigrade is out in theaters and On Demand on August 28, 2020. It will also be out on Hulu from November 27, 2020.

Details

Director: Brendan Walsh
Writers: Daley Nixon, Brendan Walsh
Stars: Vincent Piazza, Genesis Rodriguez