Three Winter Weather Films to Make You Stay Inside

Today the British woke up to find their small island battered by the first strong storms of the season, with icy downpours of rain, winds up to 65 mph and snow and sleet closing Scottish roads in the north and on the east coast. If October’s unseasonably mild weather had lulled you into an extended autumn, the weather’s about-turn is a sharp reminder that winter is coming. To make you feel better about the long, cold nights, here’s a round-up of some excellent films with extreme wintery weather conditions to make you realise that really, Britain’s winter isn’t so bad after all...

The Shining
Of course, Kubrik’s film is more notable for being majestically terrifying rather than a cinematic account of cold weather. Nevertheless, the impassive expanse of snow that surrounds the Overlook hotel is a fundamental part of the Torrance family’s disintegration into terror. Snowbound by Colorado’s unforgiving winter, the silent hotel comes menacingly to life. The Torrances are trapped, at once uncomfortably claustrophobic together but also dwarfed by the hotel’s frightening vastness.

A Perfect Storm
Wolfgang Petersen’s film will make you glad that you are tucked inside around a hot water bottle rather than out on a fishing boat battered by severe storm conditions. The film is based on the experience of the fishing boat the Andrea Gail lost at sea under severe conditions as the 1991 ‘Perfect Storm’ hit the North American coast – two storm fronts coming together to meet a tornado. Although the film has its weaknesses, the storm itself is powerfully evoked with kinetic, fluid waves of water that will make you clutch the sides of the sofa to steady yourself. Even the film trailer will give you a touch of seasickness.

Harry Potter and the...
Given that Harry’s wizard world lies subtly over our own familiar Britain, the weather in the popular franchise is certainly less extreme and threatening than the films above. With the story arc of each film matching the Hogwarts’ school year we experience the changes in the season with Harry, Hermione and Ron but always with a cosy stop for an especially charming, British Christmas to see snow falling on Diagon Alley and around the majestic walls of Hogwarts. Indeed, released around November, the films have become a part of the ritual of Christmas run-up; fans raised an outcry when Warner Bros. moved Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince to a summer release date. The series reverts to its usual schedule for part one of the final instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One. Released next week, be sure to check out the latest film’s trailer, which has couple of snowy scenes to get you in the mood.