Nicolas Cage‘s chilling crime thriller, The Frozen Ground, has made a surprising comeback on Tubi’s streaming platform more than a decade after its release. The 2013 movie, which is based on the true story of a notorious serial killer in Alaska, recently climbed into the top 10 most-watched films on the free streaming service.
On January 28, The Frozen Ground debuted at number eight on Tubi’s internal rankings, surpassing films like Geostorm and Martin Lawrence’s Blue Streak, which settled at ninth and tenth places respectively. The movie trailed behind widely known titles such as Selena, The Fifth Element, and topping the list is the Tubi original series Twin.
The Real-Life Crime Story Behind The Frozen Ground
The Frozen Ground dramatizes the true crimes of Robert Hansen, a convicted serial killer who terrorized Alaska between 1972 and 1983. Nicolas Cage portrays Jack Halcombe, an Alaska State Trooper determined to capture Hansen with assistance from Cindy Paulson, a young sex worker who escaped Hansen’s captivity. The film also stars John Cusack as Hansen, Vanessa Hudgens as Paulson, alongside an extensive cast including 50 Cent, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Radha Mitchell, and Dean Norris.
Despite its strong ensemble and compelling premise, The Frozen Ground did not perform well at the box office, earning only $5.6 million against a $19.2 million budget. However, it found some favor among critics, holding a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. Audiences on the site’s Popcornmeter measured it at 50%, with praise often directed towards the performances of Cage and Cusack as well as the film’s stark, icy Alaskan setting.
Nicolas Cage Drew from a Real State Trooper to Prepare for His Role
The inspiration behind Cage’s character, Jack Halcombe, was Glenn Flothe, an actual Alaska State Trooper and detective involved in investigating Hansen’s murders. To authentically represent the trooper, Cage conducted an extensive interview with Flothe, speaking to him for about three hours over the phone.
I view the man as a hero, a real one,
Cage said ahead of the film’s premiere, emphasizing
did not take the job lightly.
The actor also expressed a sense of responsibility in portraying Flothe accurately, noting,
It was important to me to make him look good, and I told him that,
further explaining,
And by good, I mean to treat it responsibly and not do anything…no showing off, no self-aggrandizement, just tell the facts the way they are and demonstrate the good that he did and the actions that he did.
Insights from a Key Discussion Shaping Cage’s Portrayal
During their conversation, one question had a lasting impact on Cage’s understanding of his character’s mental resilience. He asked Flothe if Hansen’s heinous acts affected him personally or interfered with his job, especially concerning sleep.
I remember I asked him once, ‘Did the things that Hansen did to these women get into your head at all?’ Did that get in the way of your job performance? Did it make it harder for you to sleep?’ And the first thing he said was, ‘No. It didn’t get in my head,
Cage recalled.
The way he said it was so direct that I had no doubt that he was as scary as Hansen was, but on the side of justice, and that he was not going to stop, that he was vigilant, and he was going to get him behind bars.
The Frozen Ground’s Current Streaming Availability
Though The Frozen Ground was initially met with disappointing commercial results, its emergence on Tubi highlights ongoing interest in true crime dramas reinforced by strong performances and real events. The film is currently accessible for streaming on Tubi, where it continues to attract viewers intrigued by its tense and unsettling storyline.
