Snow-Bound Thrillers of the '90s

In the late ‘90s, a cold, harsh winter spread across the independent film community. Between 1996 and 1998, a slew of crime thrillers set against snowy landscapes lit up the screen — “Before and After,” “Fargo,” “A Simple Plan,” “A Civil Action,” “Affliction,” etc. Why were these films so prevalent during this time and how do they hold up in today’s context? I’ll get to that in a minute, but first, let me reintroduce you to these crime classics of yesteryear.

These films share a common structure. Their plots consist of seemingly normal, innocent people finding themselves at the front of horrible crimes during wintertime. “Before and After” follows a teenage boy who accidentally killed his girlfriend — and the parents who stop at nothing to cover up his crime.

“Fargo” tells of another desperate character. Out of severe financial need, car dealer Jerry Lundegaard secretly hires two men to kidnap his wife so he can split the ransom money with them — money paid by his unsuspecting and disapproving father-in-law.

“A Simple Plan” also deals with money and its dangers. Its gripping story follows three average men who stumble upon — and decide to keep — $4 million from the remains of a plane crash. The consequences are deadly.

“A Civil Action” is about those responsible for lethal water pollution in the city of Woburn, Massachusetts. Last, but not least, “Affliction” follows a police-chief whose investigation of a hunting accident is affected by his obsession with his troubled past and relationship with his abusive, alcoholic father.

In these films, the snow is a harbinger of doom — a symbol of purity waiting to be corrupted. This is a common metaphor, but it became particularly fitting for the late ‘90s, when our seemingly pure country and leaders were corrupted. We had returned from a questionable war (Operation Desert Storm) and our president, the popular Bill Clinton, was at the forefront of a sex scandal involving adulterous acts with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. His reputation and the nation’s was soiled like the snow and the characters’ morality in these crime thrillers.

In that sense, these films tapped into the zeitgeist and held a mirror up to our flaws and fears. In fact, they still do. “Fargo” and “A Simple Plan” carry even more weight now in the face of the current economic crisis. But they are also timeless cautionary tales for all those seduced by the power and comfort of money.

All of these films achieve a primal terror that stands the test of time. We all know the sense of isolation the winter can bring — and the desperate need for comfort that follows, comfort sometimes found in the form of money or material things. Therefore, we can empathize with the characters in these films, even when their behavior turns reckless or deadly.

Despite their universal — and sometimes timely — appeal, there have been very few snow-bound crime thrillers since the late ‘90s. Perhaps they will remain prominent only in that time period, when they were the most chilling and effective.