Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: October 24, 2014
7.4
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 139 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
106
Mixed:
20
Negative:
13
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6
netflicNov 2, 2014
I would NEVER call this movie a comedy...
A married couple with two kids comes to a luxury ski resort in Alps. Something happens when a controlled avalanche goes a bit wrong. Instead of protecting his family in the face of danger, the
I would NEVER call this movie a comedy...
A married couple with two kids comes to a luxury ski resort in Alps. Something happens when a controlled avalanche goes a bit wrong. Instead of protecting his family in the face of danger, the father picks up his phone and runs away. In the end everybody is fine physically but happy vacation family mood is gone.
I found this movie too long and absurd at times. Some episodes are uncomfortable to watch. Good editing would definitely benefit it. Decent acting and spectacular cinematography.
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5 of 5 users found this helpful50
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5
everettDec 12, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoiler Alert: This film had some terrific moments, and I would have given it a higher score if not for the ending, which seems contrived. I couldn't believe that the woman would've gotten off the bus without her children. The point is supposed to be that none of us knows what we'll do in a life-threatening situation, and it's meant to be ironic, after all her upset re: her husband's abandonment. But this woman has already proven what she would do under such circumstances, at the beginning of the film. The notion that, later, she wouldn't have turned around and summoned her children to get off the bus with her was completely out of character. It seemed an easy way out, which sacrificed credibility and character in order to make a rather smug point. I wish I could've seen what would've happened to this couple - and family - if the ending hadn't have been so pat. Expand
4 of 4 users found this helpful40
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6
historyman1969Nov 1, 2014
Examination of gender and class roles is stunningly photographed -- the cinematography of the French Alps is breathtaking -- but the characters and story eventually becomes boring and uninvolving, and the movie makes several illogical leapsExamination of gender and class roles is stunningly photographed -- the cinematography of the French Alps is breathtaking -- but the characters and story eventually becomes boring and uninvolving, and the movie makes several illogical leaps in the final stages, along with a few too many endings. Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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6
lasttimeisawMay 13, 2015
In Swedish writer/director Ruben Östlund’s fourth feature, a nuclear Swedish family takes on a skiing vacation in a luxury resort at the French Alps, Tomas (Kuhnke) and Ebba (Kongsli) with their two kids Harry and Vera, however as the titleIn Swedish writer/director Ruben Östlund’s fourth feature, a nuclear Swedish family takes on a skiing vacation in a luxury resort at the French Alps, Tomas (Kuhnke) and Ebba (Kongsli) with their two kids Harry and Vera, however as the title suggests, Tomas’ one instinct reaction during a "force majeure” - an avalanche which turns out to be a false alarm, and his further denial triggers the marital dissonance between them, and eventually puts their marriage through an unanticipated test.

keep reading my review on my blog, please google: cinema omnivore, thanks
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1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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4
Katahdin1Dec 4, 2014
This movie did not work for me. Shallow, uninteresting characters have a crisis and transform into shallow, uninteresting characters who whine a lot. The plot is contrived and manipulative. On the plus side, the acting is good and theThis movie did not work for me. Shallow, uninteresting characters have a crisis and transform into shallow, uninteresting characters who whine a lot. The plot is contrived and manipulative. On the plus side, the acting is good and the scenery is spectacular. Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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4
MussMan717Jul 28, 2023
Despite some good performances and several breathtaking shots interspersed throughout, the dreadfully slow pacing doesn't lend itself to such a fruitless narrative. These characters aren't relatable enough to produce an effective drama, butDespite some good performances and several breathtaking shots interspersed throughout, the dreadfully slow pacing doesn't lend itself to such a fruitless narrative. These characters aren't relatable enough to produce an effective drama, but the circumstances in which they find themselves are far too dramatic for what little dry comedy there is to sustain it. The result is a drawn-out yarn that still features a couple great scenes amid the forest of drudgery. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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