Polaris

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1:20

Polaris

2022

1h 29m

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

The world has upended, and we find ourselves in a remote part of the world, during forever-winter, where women endure a vicious lifestyle, reflective of a brutal environment, inherited from the cruel disregard of generations prior. This is a world where toxic green goo runs thicker than blood in fish and wild animals. The women number few within a massive territory, where everyone labors to survive. But, there are factions of marauders (MORADS), who band together and use their collective brutality to raid, hunt, and remain formidable from attack. To be a Morad requires a relentless work ethic, enforced by peer accountability. In return, one might live longer because there is strength in community. To be other than a Morad is to risk attack from them -- and requires an uncommon aptitude for survival.

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Nick Allen

RogerEbert.com

Carthew is committed to her bold vision about human nature.

Sep 26, 2022

Full Review

Stephanie Malone

Morbidly Beautiful

A breathtaking, apocalyptic eco-horror told entirely in visual language, POLARIS is an extraordinary achievement. It's a startlingly uncommon vision with tremendous heart and powerful themes worthy of exploration.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 30, 2023

Full Review

Daniela Urzola

Caimán Cuadernos de Cine

If the film is successful, it is in showing these relationships just beyond the figures of mother and daughter, focusing on a horizontal bond – that of sisters who share the same pain [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 8, 2022

Full Review

Sara Clements

Pajiba

Polaris is an indie sci-fi eco-adventure not to be missed. Just as David Cronenberg brought some “new flesh” to Canadian horror, KC Carthew could do the same with Canadian sci-fi if she chooses to stick to that genre.

Aug 1, 2022

Full Review

Deirdre Crimmins

Rue Morgue Magazine

When taken for its visuals, incredible performances and world-building, Polaris is a worthy entry in post-apocalyptic cinema’s hallowed halls. Frustratingly, the extra layers of forced fables get in the way of its ascending to greatness.

Jul 29, 2022

Full Review

Christopher Cross

Tilt Magazine

Polaris is surprising in how well it is able to take the audience by the hand and bring them into its post-apocalyptic frozen wasteland.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 26, 2022

Full Review

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Ross T

This is the film that made me sign up. This is unwatchable dross. Nobody who likes this has ever actually watched a film before. A symptom of the death of film making in the west. Terrible, not a single redeeming quality.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

Full Review

Logan D

In 2144, a polar bear's companion, Sumi (Viva Lee), has herworld is upended when she is kidnapped by mauraders. A wonderful example of worldbuilding. We enter the world of Sumi, a young girl who slides along the snow with her her maternal figure bear. Like the ursine, she has a fierce side. She's intelligent and violent when necessary. The environment is the white perpetual winter brought on, we assume, thru mankind's ecological violations. But now "mankind" consists of all women, at least in the environs of the film. Like the iciness that surrounds them, most of the populace is unforgiving. The type of film I love to discover. *Note* There is another film with the same title released the same year. It's a documentary about two sisters. I viewed it for about a half hour before confusion led to realization.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/25

Full Review

Lou M

Viva Lee was phenomenal! The ending let the movie down.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

Good K

Not sure how RT gets 100% ratings from their “top critics” when the audience score is below 70%. This happens a lot. How?? Never s good sign. But trust your instincts on this one. Big pass. Not even worthy of a review. There are so many holes in the script and so poorly written directed and acted that one has to wonder how this movie ever got made in the first place. Bottom line … don’t waste your time. Wish I didn’t.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/24

Full Review

Katie F

Just because it's unique, doesn't mean it's worth a watch. The lack of dialogue from the main character didn't bother me. The plot holes did.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

Full Review

Ruari C

It's super original - Arctic mad-max themes with an all-female cast and an intensity based on audience engagement. Having no language to focus on actually serves to immerse one in the experience of the characters and their relationships to one another and their environment. Super cool. Plus, there's a fricken live polar bear!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/24

Full Review

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Kirsten Carthew

Director

Viva Lee

Sumi

Muriel Dutil

Dee

Charlene Abraham

Morad Woodchopper #1

Veronique Boileau

Morad Dog Musher #2

Lindsay Caskenette

Morad Dog Musher #1

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Polaris: Trailer 1

1:20

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Synopsis

The world has upended, and we find ourselves in a remote part of the world, during forever-winter, where women endure a vicious lifestyle, reflective of a brutal environment, inherited from the cruel disregard of generations prior. This is a world where toxic green goo runs thicker than blood in fish and wild animals. The women number few within a massive territory, where everyone labors to survive. But, there are factions of marauders (MORADS), who band together and use their collective brutality to raid, hunt, and remain formidable from attack. To be a Morad requires a relentless work ethic, enforced by peer accountability. In return, one might live longer because there is strength in community. To be other than a Morad is to risk attack from them -- and requires an uncommon aptitude for survival.

Director: Kirsten Carthew
Producer: Paul Cadieux, Kirsten Carthew, Max Fraser, Alyson Richards
Screenwriter: Kirsten Carthew
Distributor: Epic Pictures
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: root
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 7, 2023
Runtime: 1h 29m

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