In the coldest regions of North America, drivers traverse man-made roads over frozen rivers, lakes and oceans of ice less than 30 inches thick … in 65,000 lb. vehicles.
This is the Ice Road. And those who are crazy enough to trek across it consider their work a suicide mission. Those who sign up ought to know what they’re getting themselves into.
Mike thought he knew. After getting kicked out of multiple jobs for defending his disabled, mechanically savvy brother and business partner, Mike is ready for a change.
One day, he gets a text on his phone from a corporation looking for skilled drivers who have experience crossing into Northern Manitoba, Canada, via the Ice Road.
The job is time-sensitive: A team of miners is trapped underground in Katka Diamond Mine following an explosion. In 30 hours, their oxygen supply will be fully depleted. The only way to save them is to transport an 18-foot gas wellhead and 300 feet of pipe in a big rig.
Mike is convinced that he and his brother, Gurty, are the right men for the job. But they can’t do it alone. They’re hired by an experienced trucker called Goldenrod who adds a young woman named Tantoo to the team. Then there’s a company observer tasked with risk analysis, a Mr. Varnay.
Together, these five people race against the clock to transport needed material and hopefully save the lives of the miners trapped below the arctic circle.
A rewarding, dangerous job. And one that is about to become far more deadly than any of them imagined.
Mike is fiercely protective of his brother, Gurty. Mike tells a doctor he’s lost some previous jobs because he’s been his brother’s sole caretaker. When the doctor tries to give Gurty unfavorable treatment, Mike takes his brother from the hospital.
Tantoo, Mike and Gurty go to great lengths to accomplish their dangerous mission, continually risking their lives to make sure that a wellhead is delivered to Katka to save the miners.
Goldenrod gives Gurty a chance to work on the team and sees that he in an excellent mechanic and an honorable man. Mike apologizes to Gurty for blaming him for their misfortunes.
Someone mumbles an inaudible prayer before a big rig begins to fall into Arctic waters.
None.
Miners hit a methane pocket underground, resulting in an explosion. It kills a few men and traps others underground with minimal oxygen. A miner suggests killing off a few weak men in order to preserve the oxygen supply, but his suggestion is denied.
And while the explosion that creates this crisis is certainly violent, most of the violence in this movie comes from semi-trucks battling against each other across the Ice Road. One truck goes completely underwater, taking a man with it who gets caught by a heavy cable.
There’s also plenty of punching and talk of hitting others. Hand-to-hand combat is common here, and we see many men hit one another. A man is choked to death. Tantoo is punched in the face. Other men die by falling to their death and getting run over by a truck.
A man lies, leaves multiple people for dead and intentionally destroys a semi to kill the driver. Mike, Gurty and Tantoo attempt to outrun an avalanche. A branch pierces one person in the chest.
Jesus and God’s name are misused a few times each, and God is paired with “d–n” and “d–mit” a few times. The f-word is used once, and the s-word is heard more than 20 times. Other profanity includes multiple utterances each of “h—,” “d–n,” “a–,” “b–tards” and “son of a b–ch.”
Someone calls Gurty a “retard.” We also hear a man direct a racist comment at Tantoo, a Native American woman.
A doctor for Veteran Affairs tries to give Gurty narcotic medication, including opioids and Xanax, without his consent.
A trucker harasses Gurty, even after Mike explains that Gurty has a mental disability as a veteran. In a moment of frustration, Mike tells Gurty that they can’t keep jobs because of Gurty’s attitude. Mike falsely accuses a driver of homicide. A manager bribes miners and puts their lives at risk.
Who ya’ gonna call when things go south? What about when a big rig nearly falls into Arctic waters? Or when an avalanche threatens to bury you alive?
The answer to each of these questions is Liam Neeson.
Because believe it or not, Neeson’s character, Mike, somehow solves each of these problems, along with many others, throughout the film. And, spoiler alert, he does so without dying.
What. A. Hero.
No, but really, he is truly a hero throughout The Ice Road. And his heroism, paired with that of his brother Gurty and their tough friend, Tantoo, is admirable.
But what else can be said of this Netflix movie? Well, there is strength of character shown in a few folks while the rest are greedy, money-hungry psychopaths who will stop at nothing to get what they believed they’re owed. And they do so with brutality and a whole bunch of profanity.
Sure, the action and bravery on display in this PG-13 thriller will likely satisfy fans of Liam Neeson’s “skills.” But don’t expect the plot to keep you awake and carry you to the end. And don’t expect the rough-and-tumble characters here to keep their language clean, either. If that’s what you’re looking for, you might want to drive down a different cinematic road.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
