Watch Winter of Frozen Dreams

Winter of Frozen Dreams is a 2009 crime drama film directed by Eric Mandelbaum and based on the true story of a notorious murder case that took place in Wisconsin in the 1970s. The film stars Thora Birch as Barbara Hoffman, a beautiful and manipulative college student who becomes involved in a series of crimes, including prostitution and eventually murder.

The film begins with Barbara arriving in Madison, Wisconsin in 1977 to attend college. Despite coming from a privileged background, Barbara struggles to make ends meet and becomes involved in a seedy world of sex work and drug dealing. She begins a relationship with a fellow drug dealer, Jerry Davies (Brendan Sexton III), and the two embark on a dangerous and destructive path together.

As the story progresses, Barbara becomes increasingly unhinged and unstable. She begins to see herself as above the law and is willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Eventually, she becomes involved with a wealthy older man, Harry Berge (Keith Carradine), and the two begin a tumultuous and abusive relationship.

Despite their differences, Barbara and Harry share a common goal: to make money at any cost. Together, they devise a scheme to rob a local pharmacy, and the plan quickly spirals out of control. The robbery results in multiple deaths, and Barbara finds herself at the center of a high-profile murder investigation.

Throughout the film, Birch delivers a compelling and nuanced performance as Barbara. She portrays her character as a complex and multi-faceted individual who is both manipulative and vulnerable. Sexton III also gives a strong performance as Jerry, conveying the character's desperation and naivete.

Carradine brings a certain gravitas to his portrayal of Harry, a man who is deeply flawed but ultimately sympathetic. The film's supporting cast is also strong, with notable performances from Dean Winters as a detective investigating the case, and Tony Munch as a drug dealer who becomes involved in Barbara and Jerry's criminal activities.

Overall, Winter of Frozen Dreams is a gripping and intense crime drama that explores the dark underbelly of American college culture in the 1970s. The film is well-directed and benefits from strong performances from its cast. Although it may be difficult to watch at times due to its disturbing subject matter, it is a compelling and thought-provoking film that stays with the viewer long after the screen fades to black.

Winter of Frozen Dreams is a 2009 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6.