In Cold Light – Movie Review (3/5)

IN COLD LIGHT is a crime thriller with an action pace and a strong plot. It’s very much a social commentary with its sad and tragic story. The movie stars Maika Monroe, who is breathtakingly good as the lead character trying to get back on her feet. Overall, this has a small cast that delivers on every level. Read our full In Cold Light movie review here!

IN COLD LIGHT is a movie I often see described as simply “action-thriller”, but I think this is selling it short. Sure, it has a crime story at its heart, but it’s also a social commentary focusing on how difficult it can be to change your life. Especially if you’ve gotten involved with criminal activities and have been convicted of these.

Maika Monroe stars and is amazing. Not only is she a personal favorite of mine, but she is also a genre darling in her own right. She has done so many genre movies (It Follows, Watcher, Tau, Villains) and always delivers strong portrayals. This is perhaps the most bare-boned portrayal of a character who wants to do better, but has very little going her way.

The runtime is 96 minutes, and it works perfectly for the story.

Continue reading our In Cold Light movie review below. Find it on VOD from February 24, 2026.

Fighting only to survive

We meet Ava (Maika Monroe) just as she is getting released from prison. Or actually, that’s not true, because we first see her on the day when she is arrested. She is clearly on a bad path of drugs and crime. In Cold Light focuses on what happens to her after she leaves prison.

Of course, leaving prison doesn’t mean you’re truly free. You still have to follow many rules, and are now tainted with having a record. As such, we see Ava fighting just to survive. Having an actual life of happiness is so far from her mind that just surviving is the best she can hope for.

And things are about to get much worse.

Life after prison

As is often the case with people leaving prison, she has limited options and is soon back in a world related to criminals and crime. Not necessarily by her own choice. However, with those closest to her involved with crime, it remains a part of her world by association. Things go from bad to much worse when she’s clearly set up for a murder.

The murder of her own twin, no less.

Now, she’s hunted by both the corrupt police and a ruthless crime boss played by Helen Hunt (but you won’t see her until the third act). Despite her own better judgment and wishes, Ava now has to rely on her estranged father (Troy Kotsur). What began as a struggle to get back on her feet after prison is now an actual fight just to stay alive.

Fortunately, Ava is strong, smart, and resourceful in ways the criminals never expected.

Watch In Cold Light on VOD

I wasn’t sure what to expect from In Cold Light, but the story and (especially!) the performance by Maika Monroe (Longlegs) made it a very strong watch for me. If you want to watch this genre-mix as “just” an action-thriller, then you can. Personally, I felt it was strong precisely due to its core story that focused on very real issues faced by many people trapped in a bad situation.

Also, I was happy to see Helen Hunt (The Night Clerk) deliver a very memorable performance, and she’s also looking much more like herself again. The woman is an Oscar-winning actor, and seeing Helen Hunt and Maika Monroe across from each other made me wish for a movie starring these two. The two have one big scene together in this movie, and I really enjoyed that one!

In Cold Light only has Helen Hunt in a small (but important) supporting role, and it was such a great character for her.

In Cold Light was directed by Maxime Giroux (Norbourg) and based on a screenplay by Patrick Whistler (Dreamland). It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival 2025. If you’re looking for a crime, thriller, and action movie with a strong core story and fleshed-out characters, then this is definitely a must-watch for you.

IN COLD LIGHT hits Digital and On-Demand platforms on February 24th, 2026.

Details

Director: Maxime Giroux
Writer: Patrick Whistler
Cast: Maika Monroe, Jesse Irving, Troy Kotsur, Allan Hawco, Helen Hunt, Patrick Sabongui