Cold Prey Trilogy — Cold Prey Trilogy ( Blu Ray boxset)

[Second Sight — 2026]★★★★★

Reviewed 19 August 2026by Roger Batty

The Slasher genre’s true home is the USA, as most of its key developments have occurred there, along with many of its most notable films & franchises. But other countries have also made stabs at the genre too, and I’d say Norway's Cold Prey trilogy is one of the most known/ effective of these. Here from Second Sight is a classy/ definitive reissue of the trilogy. The three-disc Blu-ray set comes presented in a rigid slipcase with new artwork by James Neal. It features a one hundred and twenty-one-page book with new essays by Matt Donato, JA Kerswell, Justin LaLiberty, Paul Lé’s Ariel Power-Schaub and Nathaniel Thompson. As well as five collectors' art cards. Each film gets a new commentary track, and a decent selection of extras too.

On the first disc, we have Cold Prey. It dates from the year 2006 been directed by the wonderfully named Roar Uthaug. This was the Lørenskog, Norway-born filmmaker's first film, after a series of short films. He has seven other features to his name, including the likes of medieval-set survival adventure Escape (2012), disaster film The Wave (2015), and fantasy adventure Troll (2022).

The one hour and thirty-eight-minute film kicks off with opening credits lined with news footage regarding a lost boy in the 1970’s, and more recent reports of disappeared skiers in the mountains- the film was shot in the Jotunheimen range of mountains in southern Norway.

As the film opens, we are introduced to the main cast of five friends who are travelling through the snowy landscape to snowboard. The sun is bright, and the group is pumped up to get on the slopes. There’s the pixie-haired Jannicke (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal) and her crew cut/ stubbled boyfriend Eirik (Tomas Alf Larsen)- he wants to move in with her, but she’s still unsure. Theres the recently got together/ all over each other couple- dark emo-haired/hoodie-wearing Mikal (Endre Martin Midtstigen) and blond-haired bubbly Ingunn (Viktoria Winge). And finally, straggly-haired joker Morten Tobias (Rolf Kristian Larsen).

They park up, leaving their car, before climbing up a huge snow-covered mountain- to discover untouched slopes. Cue some upbeat rock and pop-punk tunes- as the five get their snowboard groove on. Anyway, one of the group flies off their board, crashing down and breaking their leg. There’s no phone signal on the mountain- it’s too far to walk back to their car, or the relatively nearby town; then they see a large, abandoned ski lodge.

They settle in, get the power up, and have a few drinks- initially it seems that the place has been shut since the 1970’s- after a disappearance, but they start noticing things that suggest they are not alone.

The five characters are painted well enough and are largely likeable enough bunch. The lodge setting is effective- with its mix of wood-edged and fur-stacked common areas, narrow flickering light corridors, generator room, and large kitchen.

The atmosphere/ feeling of unease is steadily built up, as we first see flashes of figures and eerier burnt-out bedrooms. Before the group start getting attacked by the pickaxe killer- the kills themselves are bloody, if not particularly detailed or creative- but each has a good sense of jolting horror, with sometimes gnarly aftermaths.

In conclusion, Cold Prey is one of the better 2000s slashers- you have a likable/ relatable cast, a neat, isolated location, with a steady build-up of the tension/ suspense, with some nicely jolting kills.

Extra wise on this first disc, we get a good selection of both new & old things. So on the new side, firstly we have a commentary track with director Roar Uthaug and actor Ingrid Bolsø Berdal- this is interesting, if a little sparse in places. They start by discussing when they last saw the film- for Ingrid, it was the film's premiere. They talk about the credits- how they, in part, were influenced by films like Seven, and gave you some empathy towards the to-be killer. Roar talks about how he wanted to make an American slasher in Norway, and how most of the film was shot on Super 16 MM- aside from the mountain shots captured on 35MM to capture the snow as crisp as possible. We find out Ingrid came from a theatre background originally and had only one other film credit before Cold Prey. They talk about how the ski lodge didn’t have a road going up to it- it was a twenty-minute snowmobile ride- the whole crew and cast stayed there during the shooting. Later on, they point out moments where tension was trying to be created between the characters. We find out it was filmed over three months, with a budget 1.5 million dollars.

Otherwise, on the new side there’s: This is the Vibe (22.21) interview with director Roar Uthaug. Draw the Process (18.55) interview with actor Ingrid Bolsø Berdal.

And on the archive side: Alternative Ending (2.36), Behind the Scenes (21.43), The Visual FX of Cold Prey ( 23.27) Car Scenes ( 11.01), Bloopers ( 8.43), Short Film: Mountain Rose Runs Amok (2.18) Short Film: An Evening in the Green ( 3.44) Music Video: Bloodlights "One Eye Open" (4.02)

On to the second disc, and we have Cold Prey II. It appeared two years after the first film, in 2008, taking place just after the end of the first film- where solo survivor Jannicke (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal) is found in shock at the side of the road.

The film was directed and co-written by Mats Stenberg. Surprisingly, this is his one & only directorial credit, as he does a really good job with this sequel. We once again have a selection of relatable characters that are given time to develop. The tension starts to notch up nicely; we get some creepy moments, the kills are more brutal/ intense, and there is a good evolving story with some effective moments of tension, emotion, and action.

The film is largely set around a small hospital that sits at the foot of the mountains the first film took place in. It’s due to be shut down shortly, with minimal staff and patients. Staff-wise, we have dark curly-haired Camilla (Marthe Snorresdotter Rovik), a trainee doc who is in a relationship with a local lank haired/ scruffy bearded cop Ole (Kim Arne Hagen). Firm-but-fair middle-aged doctor Herman (Fridtjov Såheim). And young blond nurse Audhild (Johanna Mørck). And on the patient side there’s Jannicke, a young boy in an arm cast, and a rather confused older woman.

After Jannicke is brought in, she is questioned by a seasoned/ older cop- initially they're unsure whether to believe her, but after going onto the hotel & nearby glarier they find out it’s all very much true- bringing back the bodies of her dead friends, and their towering killer.

I guess it takes maybe thirty/ forty minutes for the slasher side to kick in, so as mentioned earlier we get to know & care about the characters. In the time, we also get a bit more detail/ back story about our killer, before he starts on another spree. The kills are a bit more intense/ brutal- we get a deep throat slashing, a head snapped right back, a pickaxe through the head, and a few others.

The film runs just under the one hour and forty-minute mark. And it remains engaging throughout, as we shift from character introduction/ drama onto the slasher side of things. Yes, the hospital location has been used in slasher films before- but the snowy setting adds a new edge, and it does try devilate/ play with the tropes/ cliches of the location.

The extras for this disc open with a new commentary track from director Mats Stenberg- this is much more in-depth/ informative than the first film's track. He starts by talking about how the opening credits of the film were shot using a small medical camera. He points out and discusses new characters as they appear. He talks about the production placement of Jeep vehicles in the film, and how the company was less than impressed when one of them was wrecked. He discusses how good the child actor was in the film- been so easy to work with. He talks about how the interiors of the hospital were shot elsewhere from the exterior- in a previous nursing home near Oslo. He points out shots that were influenced by other films. Later, on his comments on the use of the camera in certain shots. How some of the effects were created, and much more.

Otherwise, on the new side there’s: A Blessing and A Curse (31.58) interview with director Mats Stenberg. Dissociation (10.44) interview with actor Ingrid Bolsø Berdal. Stepping Aside (4.07) interview with associate producer Roar Uthaug.

And on the archive side: Behind the Scenes (34.07) Bloopers (3.09) Extended / Deleted Scenes(6.59).

Finally, of course, we have Cold Prey III. This appeared in the year 2010 been directed by Mikkel Brænne Sandemose. He has five features to his name. Such as fantasy Adventure Ragnarok (2013) and animated family film The Polar Bear Prince (2024).

It runs at one hour and thirty-five minutes. In the pre-credits, we find a little more about the origins of our killer in the 70’s- we then fast-forward to the 1980’s, where a group of six friends are heading out for some partying near the lodge location. This film has little or no snow- so more of a backwoods slasher.

As a group, the six friends don’t really have much depth about them- so as a result, you don’t really connect with any of them. The group takes in two couples, and two single guys- I’d say the latter are more memorable, as one is a Walkman-carrying music fan, and the other is a gun-carrying quipper.

As mentioned earlier, this is a backwoods slasher- and to be honest it’s not a great one- having a rather generic American feel. On the kill side, we get quite a few arrow-based ones- going through feet & backs, to be then pulled out with a fair few scream.

Our killer is once again lumbering/ hooded- but to be honest is again rather generic, lacking its moments of jarring terror/ unsettling screen presence.

The film is fairly dark/murky in its presentation, as it’s largely shot either moving toward dusk/night or in the shadowy half-light of a rundown log cabin.

There are a few decent enough chase scenes through the woods, an effective water-bound fight, and one or two nicely gnarly aftermaths of kills. I’d say Cold Prey III is a just ok/ passable slasher but has nowhere near the quality/ originality of the first two films.

For this final film, there’s again a new commentary track- it’s from Second Slights Phillip Escott & Christer Andresen, who wrote a book about Norwegian cinematic horror. And really this is much more of a general discussion on the development and growth of horror/ genre films in the country- it’s ok, I guess, though you do feel a little short-changed as they barely touch on the film at hand. Lastly, we have an archive Behind The Scenes (21.39)

The first two films are excellent, working well together to create a suspenseful and emotionally impactful flow. Yes, the third is rather a run-of-the-mill backwoods slasher, but it’s certainly better than some entries in other slasher genre franchises.