Set in the Arctic wilderness, The Last Winter follows a group of oil company workers stationed at a remote outpost as they prepare to drill in one of the last untouched areas of Alaska. Led by the pragmatic and headstrong Ed Pollack (played by Ron Perlman), the team is eager to start operations, despite warnings from environmental consultant James Hoffman (James LeGros) about the dangers of disrupting the ecosystem.
As temperatures rise unnaturally and the permafrost begins to melt, strange and unexplainable events start to unfold. Crew members report bizarre visions, grow increasingly paranoid, and exhibit signs of psychological distress. The unforgiving landscape and its mysteries seem to take on a life of their own, as nature itself appears to strike back against human intrusion. What begins as an environmental warning soon spirals into a full-blown supernatural horror.
Larry Fessenden masterfully blends ecological themes with psychological terror, creating an atmospheric slow-burn film that asks questions about humanity’s exploitation of nature and its dire consequences.
The isolated Arctic setting, with its chilling expanses and eerie silence, adds to the palpable tension, making viewers feel just as trapped and vulnerable as the characters. The haunting cinematography and foreboding score enhance the eerie tone of the narrative.
