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Dead of Winter

Dead of Winter is a 2025 action thriller film directed by Brian Kirk and written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dead of Winter is a 2025 action thriller film directed by Brian Kirk and written by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb. The film stars Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, and Laurel Marsden, and follows a woman who becomes involved in a kidnapping struggle during a blizzard in northern Minnesota. It had its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 8 August 2025 and was released theatrically on 26 September 2025.

Plot

The film follows a woman travelling alone in a blizzard near a lake in northern Minnesota who stops at a remote cabin and discovers a young woman being held by an armed couple. She becomes the only immediate hope for the captive’s survival.

Cast

The principal cast includes Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, and Laurel Marsden. Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb also identify the same core ensemble.

Release

Dead of Winter premiered at Locarno’s Piazza Grande on 8 August 2025 before opening theatrically on 26 September 2025. A streaming release followed on 21 October 2025.

Production

The film was directed by Brian Kirk from a screenplay by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb. Listed production companies include Stampede Ventures and Augenschein Filmproduktion.

Key facts

  • Dead of Winter is a 2025 action thriller set in snowbound northern Minnesota.
  • The film stars Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, and Laurel Marsden.
  • It premiered at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 8 August 2025 and was released theatrically on 26 September 2025.
  • The story follows a woman who discovers an armed kidnapping during a blizzard.
  • The film was distributed by Vertical and produced by Stampede Ventures and Augenschein Filmproduktion.
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Canadian context

No strong Canada-specific connection is identified in the provided sources, beyond general interest for Canadian film audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dead of Winter about?
It is about a lone woman caught in a blizzard who discovers an armed kidnapping and tries to save the captive.
Who directed Dead of Winter?
Brian Kirk directed the film.
Who stars in Dead of Winter?
The film stars Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca, and Laurel Marsden.
When was Dead of Winter released?
It premiered on 8 August 2025 and was released theatrically on 26 September 2025.
What genre is Dead of Winter?
It is an action thriller.
Where is Dead of Winter set?
The story is set in snowbound northern Minnesota.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_of_Winter_(2025_film)
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, premiere date, and theatrical release date.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_of_winter_2025
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, runtime, distributor, production companies, rating, and release dates.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7574556/
    Supports: Basic plot summary and identification of the 2025 film.
  4. YouTube (Vertical trailer) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klGRM4Qs-gk
    Supports: Official trailer description, cast, director, and release date.
  5. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/dead-of-winter/umc.cmc.4huqvjxvjq6d1azgudf6kcucl
    Supports: Cast, director, runtime, and synopsis.