Polaris

2022

1h 29m

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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List

100%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

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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Premiered Feb 09

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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

C C

This is a future cult classic, not for everyone, but worth the watch if only to see how different a movie can be from the standard Hollywood big budget story telling. Set in a dystopian future winter world, made up of an entirely all female cast (including the polar bear!), and filmed on a shoestring budget in extremely harsh (-30 C and a pandemic) conditions, the film shows what's possible for innovation and bold storytelling. The story builds slowly, only really pulling all the loose strings together with great effect in the final dramatic scene. Hard to categorize this film at all since it doesn't conveniently fit into any single one, but rather contain elements from so many different categories.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

Jean C

I wasn't expecting much from this movie... and yet, it really stood out for me. The lead young actress captured a wildness, but also a humanity that is dying out. I enjoyed the scenery and story.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

Full Review

Lynn F

The boldness and originality of vision blew me away. This is movie-magic... a fantastical ride that propels the imagination. For me the film's emphasis on empathy (yes, even with the bloodshed) intuition, and connection with Nature, make it standout. I think the filmmaker created an original female centred story world and put characters and story themes on screen that feel wildly relevant and unique. I get the "Mad Max" reference, but it also reminds me of a French film, "The Bear" (1980s) and the Japanese anime "Princess Mononoke". Can't wait to see what this team does next... I'm hoping for a sequel and/or a prequel…

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

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

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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

Anton Bitel

Projected Figures

Kirsten Carthew’s post-apocalyptic ice-age adventure mystery sees a young girl raised by a polar bear and elevated to the stars

Oct 28, 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

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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: Kalani Dreimanis, Patrick Ewald, Emma Phelan, Maryse Rouillard
Screenwriter: Kirsten Carthew
Distributor: Epic Pictures
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Unknown language
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 7, 2023
Runtime: 1h 29m

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