Dead of Winter (2025)

Action, Thriller R
Languages : English
Streaming Year: 2026
Streaming Date: 20 Mar, 2026
Platform: Lionsgate Play
Theater Release Date: 26 Sep, 2025
Duration: 1h 38m

Star Cast

Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, Laurel Marsden, Gaia Wise, Brían F. O’Byrne, Cuan Hosty-Blaney, Lloyd Hutchinson

Director

Brian Kirk

OTT Release Date

20 Mar, 2026

Synopsis

Dead of Winter is a gripping, ice-cold survival thriller anchored by an extraordinary performance from Academy Award winner Emma Thompson playing an unlikely action hero in the most freezing, terrifying circumstances imaginable.

The film follows Barb (Emma Thompson), a grieving widow traveling alone through a brutal snowstorm in northern Minnesota. Her mission is deeply personal: she is headed to a remote, frozen lake to scatter her late husband’s ashes at the spot where they had their first date.

Written by: Nicholas Jacobson-Larson & Dalton Leeb
Producers: Jon Berg, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo & Greg Silverman

However, her journey of closure takes a terrifying turn when she stumbles upon a kidnapping in progress. With no cell service and hours away from the nearest town, Barb realizes she is the only hope for a teenage girl named Leah (Laurel Marsden) being held captive by a dangerous couple.

The story evolves into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game across the sub-zero wilderness, where Barb must use her grit and resilience to outsmart the kidnappers while battling the elements.

Emma Thompson takes a polar plunge into action territory with Dead of Winter, a chilly thriller that wears one too many layers of backstory but still satisfies as a tense showcase for its estimable star.

The film features a notable family connection: the role of “Young Barb” in the film’s emotional flashbacks is played by Gaia Wise, who is Emma Thompson’s real-life daughter. Critics have also noted Thompson’s physical transformation for the role, including a thick Minnesotan accent that has drawn comparisons to Frances McDormand’s iconic performance in Fargo.

Awards & Festival

World Premiere at the 78th Locarno International Film Festival in the Piazza Grande section on August 8, 2025.

Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. We do not provide streaming or download links. Kokahd does not own any content displayed here. We simply aggregate content and provide links to the original service providers