In 1997, we really needed a movie like Michael Cooney’s “Jack Frost.” The decade was so serious and bereft of horror that “Jack Frost” was such a wacky and demented shot of horror comedy that baffled horror fans then and has rightfully become something of a cult classic. What’s unusual about “Jack Frost,” (a cocktail of “Child’s Play,” “The Blob” and “Sleepstalker”) is that something this ridiculous obviously had a lot of deliberate construction of its awfulness. Every shot is pointed from a weird angle, the odd color scheme for most shots are off, and a lot of the snow is so obviously fake or Styrofoam, and director Cooney doesn’t even try to hide that apparent fact.
And when you think they’re going for an easy joke, they always tend to surprise you. Like Jack killing a local with an axe by shoving it down his throat handle first, proclaiming “I just axed you for a cigarette.” In the town of Snowmonton, the notorious serial killer Jack Frost has finally been caught by local Sheriff Sam Tiler, and driven to his execution. Along the way, his truck is caught in a massive snow storm and crashes along side the road. Before Jack can free himself, he’s drowned in a vat of mysterious genetic liquid, causing him to literally melt and be absorbed in to the snow. Because, that’s how stuff works. Before long, Sheriff Tiler notices people around town are dying mysteriously from snow related deaths like hypothermia, and being frozen to death.
Before long, he realizes Jack is back as living snow and begins murdering everyone he can with the use of his new powers. And… you know… a lot of snow, water, and ice puns. “Jack Frost” is just an endless array of moments and gags that will cause even hardcore fans to laugh with bafflement. From the odd opening narration, the very heavy delivery of snow gags, and convenient arrival of a snowman building contest in a snowbound town named Snowmonton. There’s even the town sheriff’s son who spend an inexplicable amount of time cooking. Every performance is worth watching if only for how over the top they tend to be. Every single cast member seems to be from the Shatner School of Acting, and jump in to scenes screaming at the top of their lungs and lunging at one another.
There’s even a notable performance from pre-“American Pie” Shannon Elizabeth who takes part in one of the film’s most memorable kills. Scott MacDonald is especially fun as Jack Frost, chewing every inch of scenery whenever he appears in person, and offering silly vocal work once he becomes the killer snow. Every single element to “Jack Frost” is so bad it’s so good, and every single terrible element from the bad acting, terrible script, and horrendous on the nose jokes hurt so good. You cringe, and look away, but damned if you can find a reason to stop watch the hilarity. “Jack Frost” will alienate a lot of fans, but for folks that appreciate what it’s trying to do, it’s a trippy and wacky horror comedy.