A Long Winter (2026)★ 6.4/10

Director Andrew Haigh’s last movie was ALL OF US STRANGERS, which is amazing if you haven’t had a chance to see it. His latest movie has now been released in a couple film festivals, called A LONG WINTER. It’s a beautifully shot but incredibly slow film about grief, isolation, and the things families leave unsaid. There's a lot to appreciate here, but I can't say I was completely invested throughout. The cinematography is easily one of the film's biggest strengths. The snowy landscapes are stunning, and you can almost feel the loneliness and cold coming through the screen. Fred Hechinger gives a really understated, vulnerable performance, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach is equally convincing as a father who doesn't know how to deal with his emotions. My biggest issue is the pacing. I appreciate a slow-burn drama, especially one that relies on silence and subtle performances, but there were stretches where I felt the film was barely moving forward. The movie had a few interesting ideas, but it never followed through with them, making me frustrated. There's definitely something powerful underneath it all, I just wish the journey getting there had been a little more engaging. Overall, A LONG WINTER is a thoughtful, atmospheric film with strong performances, but one that ultimately left me admiring it more than connecting with it.