Infinite Storm

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Infinite Storm
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Infinite Storm is an intense, fact-based mountaineering drama with intense peril, graphic injuries, and strong language. When climber Pam Bales (Naomi Watts) discovers a stranded man (Billy Howle) while hiking, she becomes determined to help him survive a storm. Expect moments of threat throughout, including people being isolated in freezing temperatures and falling down slopes, in holes, and into rivers. Injury details are shown, including frostbitten hands and feet and bone protruding from a leg injury. Strong language includes "f--k" and "s--t," and there's an incident of drinking to excess. There are also brief moments of non-sexual female nudity from the side and back. The film includes long periods of silence, and characters spend most of the runtime battling for their lives in one way or another. But Bales shows great resilience and kindness throughout. the movie can be hard-going, and younger teens may find it lacking in dynamic action. But older teens and adults will likely be drawn in to the tale of survival against the odds, made more impactful knowing that it's based on actual events.
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What's the Story?
In INFINITE STORM, experienced climber Pam Bales (Naomi Watts) is midway up Mount Washington when a huge blizzard approaches. As she descends back down toward town, she finds a lone hiker (Billy Howle) stranded on the mountainside and must risk it all to help them both back to safety before they fall victim to the storm.
Is It Any Good?
Over the years, Watts has proven herself both very watchable and capable of holding sole focus in intense dramas, including fellow lockdown production The Desperate Hour. Here, once again, in Infinite Storm, she takes almost full responsibility for the drama, spending extended scenes alone with no dialogue, trekking determinedly toward the finish line. Her ability to hold the screen with just physicality and facial expression is impressive, but once she discovers stranded hiker "John," her character really takes form. From dogged selfless determination to anger and moments of humor, she becomes more relatable and more human the further she slips from "angelic savior."
Landscapes are spectacular -- filmed in Slovenia as a stand in for New Hampshire's snowy peaks -- and there are some nice visual touches, such as witnessing parts of the trek through Bales' amber-tinted snow goggles. But elsewhere the filmmaking is a little clumsy in places. Take for instance the early lingering close-up of a happy family photo, the repeated pan back to a stranger's car in the car park, and a stuffed grizzly bear that teeters in the doorway as Bales leaves for her hike, signifying oncoming danger. That all said, Watts' performance and the reminder that this is based on real-life events maintain enough interest and impact to make this an immersive experience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the moments of peril in Infinite Storm. Did the fact that the story was based on real events make it more or less impactful? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
What examples of compassion, courage, and perseverance can you give from the movie? Why are those important character strengths to have? Can you think of any times in your own life when you've demonstrated these traits?
Talk about the use of strong language in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did the movie explore connections between the past and present?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 14, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: April 12, 2022
- Cast: Naomi Watts, Dennis O'Hare, Billy Howle
- Director: Malgorzata Szumowska
- Studio: Bleecker Street Media
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Adventures, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Perseverance
- Run time: 98 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: some language and brief nudity
- Last updated: December 11, 2022
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