I wouldn’t exactly consider Cold Pursuit a remake, but more a ‘retelling’. This is because the film is directed by Hans Petter Moland who also directed the original Norwegian black comedy titled ‘In Order of Disappearance’.
In Cold Pursuit, the film follows Liam Neeson’s character Nelson Coxman who is a humble snowplough driver in the Colorado ski resort town of Kehoe. Happy with being awarded “Citizen of the Year” his quiet life takes a dark turn when his son Kyle is found dead, appearing to have died of an overdose. Convinced that his son was murdered, Nelson finds himself a vigilante on a mission to uncover the truth behind his son’s death while coldly slaying people in his wake.
The thing about Nelson Coxman is that despite him going on a calculated retribution tour, you can’t help but root for him and cheer for his character when he slowly disposes of all the unjust bastards that get in his way. The narrative, pacing and dark humour of the film is ridiculously clever. Despite being ambitiously hilarious, Cold Pursuit also manages to provide depth, addressing serious themes of love, heartache, loneliness and loss.
I was so thoroughly impressed with Liam Neeson’s performance as Nelson Coxman, I daresay this is one of the best, if not the best films he has ever done in a leading role. The cinematography displaying the natural landscapes in Cold Pursuit are also impressively stunning, harsh, picturesque and beautiful. If moving to a quiet village is your kind of thing, this movie is damn well convincing in displaying the attractive lifestyle of a quiet town life. Minus the murder and bad guys in reality, of course.
In Cold Pursuit, revenge is a dish best served cold with a side of snowplough. Cleverly executed and so enjoyable to watch, Cold Pursuit is the perfect film. It is filled with drama, mystery, action, sweet-sweet vengeance and is honestly, completely and utterly fucking brilliant.