Rating: 
Summary: Imaginative but dirt cheap
Review: "Ice From the Sun" is one of those movies you'll most likely find hiding out under the Sub Rosa distribution label. What does that mean and why is it important? If you like horror movies enough to watch cheap, cheesy, and often atrocious shot on video productions, you will run across this company sooner rather than later. Sub Rosa is turning into Troma's out of work brother-in-law, releasing the most sordid dreck ever seen on home entertainment systems. Most of the films sporting the Sub Rosa label would never see the light of day if it weren't for the advent of DVD technology. Even the famed grindhouses of New York City wouldn't have shown the likes of "Shatter Dead" or "Peter Rottentail," not even on a bet. The only thing that I can possibly say in defense of companies like Sub Rosa is that occasionally they distribute something like Eric Stanze's "Ice From the Sun." Don't get me wrong; "Ice From the Sun" is micro budget filmmaking on every level. The acting is downright awful, the pace uneven, but what works often overshadows what fails. I don't think I'm stretching to say that this movie is one of the best shot on video films I've ever seen. And, sad to say, I've seen quite a few.Normally, you shouldn't worry too much about plot with one of these camcorder productions. The movies exist merely as conduits through which wannabe filmmakers with a "vision" can indulge in scene after scene of catsup soaked gore. "Ice From the Sun" differs in that it spends a great amount of time-perhaps an inordinate amount of time depending on your view-setting up what is actually an intriguing idea. A young woman named Allison (Ramona Midgett) commits autocide only to discover the image of a glowing angel instructing her to return to earth in order to defeat an evil known as The Presence. Apparently, back in the Middle Ages a sorcerer and his apprentice built an alternate dimension made out of ice from the sun. Ever since, every few years the sorcerer and his assistant Abraham (DJ Vivona) bring six humans to the dimension to play a series of bloody games. Eventually, Abraham killed the sorcerer and seized power for himself as The Presence. The angels in heaven and the demons in the underworld both despise Abraham, but the ice barrier prevents the armies of above and below from launching an invasion. The last time Abraham/The Presence abducted a batch of humans, one of them escaped back to earth alive. This mistake convinces the angels and demons that The Presence is losing his grasp on power. If Allison can go to the dimension and convince Abraham to remember his life on earth, the ice wall will collapse and restore balance to the cosmos. Getting in the way of Allison's mission are six lunkheads teleported to the alternate dimension as part of the latest series of games. None of them have a chance in you know what to win anything except a horrific, painful demise. As they lurch about the dimension, which looks a lot like a forested area in New Jersey or some similar place, Abraham wipes them out. The most memorable scene involves a girl, a rope attached to a truck, and a bag of salt. There's also a grotesque medical examination bit, and a melting skull trick that actually looks better than what we saw at the end of the first "Indiana Jones" picture. A few of the games are unintentionally funny, such as the girl who ends up transmogrified into some half dog creature and the running eyeball scene. Overall, while there's more than a few situations of stomach churning gore, the movie is not a non-stop gorefest a la "Dead Alive." This, I think, is what sets the film apart from other shot on video productions. Well, that and the fact that Stanze attempts to ramp up the technical aspects of filmmaking. The imaginative use of light effects and cinematic wizardry ultimately elevates "Ice From the Sun" from the rest of the camcorder crowd. Weird camera angles, jump cut editing, the use of negative photography, and hallucinatory imagery might have you scratching your head from time to time, but it does work in an odd way. It is difficult to look at Stanze's picture and not think you're watching a particularly cheap film shot by a former music video director. Personally, I hate the heavy reliance on cinematic gimcracks currently plaguing nearly every action film, but to see someone do it effectively on such a low budget isn't as annoying as seeing it done in a summer blockbuster. Regrettably, you must take the good with the bad, bad in "Ice From the Sun" meaning the acting. The only competent actor in the entire production is DJ Vivona as The Presence. Everyone else falls as flat as a pancake, especially Ramona Midgett. This gal delivers every piece of dialogue like she's letting marbles fall out of her mouth. You can't have everything work, I guess. "Ice From the Sun" is worth a watch for those stalwart souls, like me, who must on occasion foray into the dark depths of shot on video filmmaking. Extras on the DVD version of the film include two commentary tracks-one from Stanze and one from a few of the actors-and two trailers for the movie. You also get a few stills. The soundtrack for the movie, which I do believe is available on compact disc, is your typical thrash/death metal/industrial (whatever they call it these days) tunes. Occasionally disturbing, often eye catching, and acted with all the aplomb of a lead statue, "Ice From the Sun" is a fun way to pass a couple of hours.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginative but dirt cheap
Review: "Ice From the Sun" is one of those movies you'll most likely find hiding out under the Sub Rosa distribution label. What does that mean and why is it important? If you like horror movies enough to watch cheap, cheesy, and often atrocious shot on video productions, you will run across this company sooner rather than later. Sub Rosa is turning into Troma's out of work brother-in-law, releasing the most sordid dreck ever seen on home entertainment systems. Most of the films sporting the Sub Rosa label would never see the light of day if it weren't for the advent of DVD technology. Even the famed grindhouses of New York City wouldn't have shown the likes of "Shatter Dead" or "Peter Rottentail," not even on a bet. The only thing that I can possibly say in defense of companies like Sub Rosa is that occasionally they distribute something like Eric Stanze's "Ice From the Sun." Don't get me wrong; "Ice From the Sun" is micro budget filmmaking on every level. The acting is downright awful, the pace uneven, but what works often overshadows what fails. I don't think I'm stretching to say that this movie is one of the best shot on video films I've ever seen. And, sad to say, I've seen quite a few. Normally, you shouldn't worry too much about plot with one of these camcorder productions. The movies exist merely as conduits through which wannabe filmmakers with a "vision" can indulge in scene after scene of catsup soaked gore. "Ice From the Sun" differs in that it spends a great amount of time-perhaps an inordinate amount of time depending on your view-setting up what is actually an intriguing idea. A young woman named Allison (Ramona Midgett) commits autocide only to discover the image of a glowing angel instructing her to return to earth in order to defeat an evil known as The Presence. Apparently, back in the Middle Ages a sorcerer and his apprentice built an alternate dimension made out of ice from the sun. Ever since, every few years the sorcerer and his assistant Abraham (DJ Vivona) bring six humans to the dimension to play a series of bloody games. Eventually, Abraham killed the sorcerer and seized power for himself as The Presence. The angels in heaven and the demons in the underworld both despise Abraham, but the ice barrier prevents the armies of above and below from launching an invasion. The last time Abraham/The Presence abducted a batch of humans, one of them escaped back to earth alive. This mistake convinces the angels and demons that The Presence is losing his grasp on power. If Allison can go to the dimension and convince Abraham to remember his life on earth, the ice wall will collapse and restore balance to the cosmos. Getting in the way of Allison's mission are six lunkheads teleported to the alternate dimension as part of the latest series of games. None of them have a chance in you know what to win anything except a horrific, painful demise. As they lurch about the dimension, which looks a lot like a forested area in New Jersey or some similar place, Abraham wipes them out. The most memorable scene involves a girl, a rope attached to a truck, and a bag of salt. There's also a grotesque medical examination bit, and a melting skull trick that actually looks better than what we saw at the end of the first "Indiana Jones" picture. A few of the games are unintentionally funny, such as the girl who ends up transmogrified into some half dog creature and the running eyeball scene. Overall, while there's more than a few situations of stomach churning gore, the movie is not a non-stop gorefest a la "Dead Alive." This, I think, is what sets the film apart from other shot on video productions. Well, that and the fact that Stanze attempts to ramp up the technical aspects of filmmaking. The imaginative use of light effects and cinematic wizardry ultimately elevates "Ice From the Sun" from the rest of the camcorder crowd. Weird camera angles, jump cut editing, the use of negative photography, and hallucinatory imagery might have you scratching your head from time to time, but it does work in an odd way. It is difficult to look at Stanze's picture and not think you're watching a particularly cheap film shot by a former music video director. Personally, I hate the heavy reliance on cinematic gimcracks currently plaguing nearly every action film, but to see someone do it effectively on such a low budget isn't as annoying as seeing it done in a summer blockbuster. Regrettably, you must take the good with the bad, bad in "Ice From the Sun" meaning the acting. The only competent actor in the entire production is DJ Vivona as The Presence. Everyone else falls as flat as a pancake, especially Ramona Midgett. This gal delivers every piece of dialogue like she's letting marbles fall out of her mouth. You can't have everything work, I guess. "Ice From the Sun" is worth a watch for those stalwart souls, like me, who must on occasion foray into the dark depths of shot on video filmmaking. Extras on the DVD version of the film include two commentary tracks-one from Stanze and one from a few of the actors-and two trailers for the movie. You also get a few stills. The soundtrack for the movie, which I do believe is available on compact disc, is your typical thrash/death metal/industrial (whatever they call it these days) tunes. Occasionally disturbing, often eye catching, and acted with all the aplomb of a lead statue, "Ice From the Sun" is a fun way to pass a couple of hours.
Rating: 
Summary: Just wretched
Review: An incoherent mess from an anvil-handed hack, and a hell of a lot closer to "Plan Nine From Outerspace" than "Begotten". I wish I'd flushed my ten bucks down the toilet. At least that wouldn't have required 2 hours of my life. If anyone recommends this movie to you, there's a 99% chance his last name is "Stanze".
Rating:
Summary: save your money & time
Review: dumb plot,bad acting,bad dialouge,cheap effects.save your money and time, you have better things to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Cool film for those who like something different.
Review: Eric Stanze, who directed the enjoyable SAVAGE HARVEST, has gone one step further with his newest film, ICE FROM THE SUN - a work of amazing creativity and craftsmanship!
With this film, he combines more traditional horror elements (as seen in his previous works) and expends them into an epic tapestry of dark surrealism and cinematic experimentation. The story focuses on the enigmatic Alison (wonderfully played by Ramona Midgett), a recent suicide victim who becomes the unwilling pawn in a cosmic struggle between the combined efforts of the angels in heaven and the devils in hell and the Presence (played by the equally excellent DJ Vivona), a murderous entity whose in control of his own dimension, a dimension of pain, death and chaos that can only be entered by someone of flesh and blood. Alison is given the task of wandering through this chaotic realm to find the Presence, and exterminate him. Her mission is masked by the arrival of six other humans, who are the latest players of the Presence's sadistic games of murder and mayhem. Who will survive?
Besides its unique story, ICE FROM THE SUN has a lot to offer! Stanze's direction is energetic and solid, and gets rewarding performances from his entire cast, including Todd Tevlin as the drug-pushing Aaron and Angela Zimmerly as the strong and resourceful Dana.
The editing is razor-sharp and wonderfully non-linear! The frame composition and the camerawork are equally stylized! The chaotic atmosphere is further enhanced by the moody lighting by Director of Photography David Berliner, who pushed the Super 8mm format to maximum effect! And to top it all off, Brian McClelland and Matt Meyer have created an amazingly textured soundscape, offering a wide array of dark sound effects and haunting musical compositions!
The special effects are another asset of this production. Tony Bridges (who created the effectively gory effects in SAVAGE HARVEST) teams up with Tommy Biondo and Jeff Bergeron to create numerous splatter set pieces that have to be seen to be believed!
All in all, this is a true work of passion and artistic exploration by everyone involved. Comparisons to films like LOST HIGHWAY, CLEAN,SHAVEN, BEGOTTEN are not out of place. It's films like these that aren't afraid to take chances and to step outside the boundaries of traditional formulaic filmmaking to break new ground! Fans of more mainstream entertainment may not enjoy this film (they'll probably be very annoyed with it), but people who are looking for something bizarre and original will be right at home here!
Rating: 
Summary: IT IS WHAT IT IS
Review: I know this is an Indie and had a small budget. My complaint about this movie is about the plot and script. This is an area where money can't make a difference. You are either creative or you are not. This is where indies should shine. "Ice From the Sun," does not shine. I have a feeling that Stanze started to use Brasso to polish the script, but gave up. There are some scenes that are inventive but most are just cliched, tedious and hackneyed. There is just enough in this movie to prevent fastforwarditis, but not enough for anything other than a fleeting impression. The biggest lack of creativity I can relate is in the demise of the characters. In the beginning of the movie I was led to believe that some sort of competition awaited each person. There is almost no competition. The characters become scared, run away and die. Sometimes they don't even run. It seems to me this would have been a great place for the Brasso. Show the characters in some sort of inventive competion. I said that I would not comment on budget aspects, but I can't help it. Ramona Midgett is a terrible actor. She is also in another Stanze film. What dirt does she have on him? Is she financing the films? She stunk up every scene she was in. If you like films that squander potential this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: IT IS WHAT IT IS
Review: I know this is an Indie and had a small budget. My complaint about this movie is about the plot and script. This is an area where money can't make a difference. You are either creative or you are not. This is where indies should shine. "Ice From the Sun," does not shine. I have a feeling that Stanze started to use Brasso to polish the script, but gave up. There are some scenes that are inventive but most are just cliched, tedious and hackneyed. There is just enough in this movie to prevent fastforwarditis, but not enough for anything other than a fleeting impression. The biggest lack of creativity I can relate is in the demise of the characters. In the beginning of the movie I was led to believe that some sort of competition awaited each person. There is almost no competition. The characters become scared, run away and die. Sometimes they don't even run. It seems to me this would have been a great place for the Brasso. Show the characters in some sort of inventive competion. I said that I would not comment on budget aspects, but I can't help it. Ramona Midgett is a terrible actor. She is also in another Stanze film. What dirt does she have on him? Is she financing the films? She stunk up every scene she was in. If you like films that squander potential this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: It's a great Indie Experimental Movie like never seen before
Review: ICE FROM THE SUN is a great flashing experimental Movie with a lot of Gore, Nudity and Violence.Director ERIC STANZE is the future of Indiemovies and you can list his name in one breath with Directors like DAVID LYNCH,DARREN ARONOFSKI,SHINYA TSUKAMOTO and TAKASHI MIIKE!The movie has got a lot of cuts(only in the opening Sequence there was over 400!!).Here in Germany we got a young talented Indie Director like STANZE, named Marco Knapp(he directed his first Movie MURDERER TALE, which is out on DVD from the German Label CMV LASERVISION, but only in german, sorry).
Back to ICE FROM THE SUN:Its outrageous, stunning and unique like STANZES other Movies SCRAPBOOK and I SPIT ON YOUR CORPSE,I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE!!
See it and love it like i did!!
BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sick, Twisted, and Exhilarating!
Review: Ice From The Sun is probably the wildest, weirdest, most creative movie I've ever seen. This film lacks a slick Hollywood look, but that is not a bad thing! The rough, gritty images in Ice From The Sun only add to the film's emotional punch. Much of this movie looks like a Nine Inch Nails music video, or maybe a bit like Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers, but the story in Ice From The Sun is far more creative than in Oliver Stone's movie. Ice From The Sun succeeds in being poetic and haunting one moment, then battering you violently then next moment with intense and frightening blasts of rapid-cut nightmare images. This film contains a lot of nudity and bloody violence, so it is not a film kids should be seeing. But adult fans of horror movies and experimental films will most likely love Ice From The Sun for it's originality and aggressive edge. I highly advise you check this film out.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Experimental Film!
Review: If you want another SCREAM rip-off, or another silly non-offensive pg-13 "horror" movie, ICE FROM THE SUN will anger you. Hollywood studio executives need not view this film either. I, however, enjoyed this imaginative twist on the horror genre. While ICE FROM THE SUN may prove too challenging for the mainstream viewer, experimental film lovers will appreciate the talent presented here. An intense feast of nightmarish visuals, great music, and wonderful sound design make ICE FROM THE SUN rise above it's low budget. The scenes of violence are particularly well-directed, delivering an incredible emotional kick, right to the viewer's gut. Through it all, the film maintains a very black, very dry sense of humor, adding to the dizzy, otherworldly experience. The structure of this film does include an interesting plot, but the story has been put through a blender and artfully splashed across this film's two hour run time. This is not a flaw in the film - it is one more way that this film stands as one of the most unique movies I've ever seen. If you want to see ART in filmmaking, buy ICE FROM THE SUN! The DVD contains some great extra features, including hidden easter eggs.
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