Chill Factor (1999)
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7% of critics liked it
(73 reviews) -
36% of users liked it
(13,067 ratings)
In this action thriller, the only things standing in the way of world destruction are two guys in an ice cream truck. On a remote island in the South Pacific, a secret weapons project (code name "Elvis") goes wrong, and a new chemical weapon, safe when frozen but deadly when thawed, is… More In this action thriller, the only things standing in the way of world destruction are two guys in an ice cream truck. On a remote island in the South Pacific, a secret weapons project (code name "Elvis") goes wrong, and a new chemical weapon, safe when frozen but deadly when thawed, is allowed to escape. Eighteen soldiers are killed, leaving behind only the scientist who created the formula and the officer in charge of the project, who is saddled with most of the blame. Ten years later, Tim Mason (Skeet Ulrich) is working at a diner in Montana when an old friend, Dr. Richard Long (David Paymer), is seriously wounded by Maj. Andrew Brynner (Peter Firth). It seems that Dr. Long helped create Elvis and Maj. Brynner was the officer who took the fall for the disaster ten years ago. Near death, Long gives Elvis to Mason and tells him that it has to be kept solidly frozen and delivered to Fort Magruder, 90 miles away. But how to keep it at zero degrees until then? A logical solution presents itself when Arlo (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who drives an ice cream truck, makes a delivery to the diner. Mason drafts Arlo into helping him transport Elvis to safety, and before long Brynner's men are hot on the trail of the icy chemical weapon. First-time director Hugh Johnson learned his craft in part through his work as a cameraman for Ridley Scott: he was the cinematographer for White Squall and G.I. Jane. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Hugh Johnson
- Written By
- Drew Gitlin, Mike Cheda
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure
R,
- In Theaters
- Sep 1, 1999 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The stunt work is pretty good, the brain work close to nonexistent.
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Wally Hammond, Time Out
The atmosphere is winning, with the odd felicity peppering the journey with gags and groans.
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Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Here's someone's idea of a cool movie concept: A couple of guys are speeding along in an ice-cream truck carrying a bomb that will explode if it gets above 50. No, not miles per hour -- degrees Fahrenheit!
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Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Chill Factor is a picture well below zero, a thriller that confuses pace with tension and wisecracks with humor.
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Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Gooding plays the worst role I've ever seen him play in a movie!
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Cuba Gooding Jr.
as Arlo
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Skeet Ulrich
as Tim Mason
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Peter Firth
as Maj. Andrew Brynner
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David Paymer
as Dr. Richard Long
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Hudson Leick
as Vaughn
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Daniel Hugh Kelly
as Col. Leo Vitelli
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Kevin J. O'Connor
as Telstar
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Judson Mills
as Dennis
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Jordan Mott
as Carl
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Dwayne Macopson
as Burke
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Jim Grimshaw
as Deputy Pappas
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Rhoda Griffis
as Pregnant Woman
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Terry Loughlin
as Courtroom General
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Erin Daniels
as Medic #2
