Red Knot is a 2014 American drama film directed by Scott Cohen and starring Olivia Thirlby and Vincent Kartheiser. The film follows a young married couple on their honeymoon to Antarctica who become stranded on the frozen continent when their ship breaks down. They must fight for survival while also dealing with tensions in their new marriage.
What is the premise of Red Knot?
Red Knot begins with newlyweds Chloe (Olivia Thirlby) and Peter (Vincent Kartheiser) embarking on their dream honeymoon to Antarctica. They join an expedition cruise to the southernmost continent along with a diverse group of other passengers. Onboard, tensions start to emerge in Chloe and Peter’s marriage as they clash over plans for their future together. However, when their ship suddenly breaks down and becomes trapped in the Antarctic ice, the couple is forced to band together in order to survive the extreme conditions.
Stranded far from any signs of civilization, Chloe and Peter face numerous challenges including brutal weather, dwindling food supplies, and dangerous terrain. They also continue to grapple with conflicts in their relationship stemming from Peter’s desire to start a family as soon as possible versus Chloe’s hesitation. As weeks pass with no sign of rescue, the two drift further apart both emotionally and physically as the vast icy landscape separates them. Yet in order to make it through alive, Chloe and Peter must find a way to reconnect and work together using all their strength and ingenuity.
Who are the main characters in Red Knot?
The two central characters in the film are:
- Chloe – A young woman who has just married Peter and embarked on a honeymoon to Antarctica. She is uncertain about starting a family right away which causes tension in her new marriage. Chloe is free-spirited and drawn to adventure.
- Peter – Chloe’s newlywed husband who is eager to begin building a life and family with her right away. He is pragmatic and regimented compared to his more spontaneous wife.
In addition to Chloe and Peter, other key characters include:
- The Expedition Leader – An experienced seaman in charge of the Antarctic cruise. He works tirelessly to try to find a way to get the ship free and save the passengers after it becomes trapped.
- Greta and Ernest – An older married couple amongst the passengers. They serve as a foil to Chloe and Peter, representing a more traditional and settled marriage.
- Ron and Susan – Well-to-do passengers who end up clashing with others in the stressful aftermath of the shipwreck.
What was the critical response to Red Knot?
Overall, Red Knot received mixed but generally positive reviews from critics:
- On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 63% approval rating based on 19 reviews. The site’s critical consensus states: “Red Knot benefits from strong performances and moments of palpable tension and terror, even if its story covers overly familiar ground.”
- Metacritic gives Red Knot a weighted average score of 54 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”
- IndieWire’s Kate Erbland gave the film a B grade, calling it “a intelligent two-hander” and praising Thirlby and Kartheiser’s performances.
- The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney offered more mixed sentiments, writing that although visually impressive, the film “lacks dramatic urgency.”
- Variety’s Guy Lodge felt the survival story failed to bring sufficient depth to the marriage issues, criticizing the “predictable arcs” of the two main characters.
While some found the plot of Red Knot somewhat familiar territory, most critics agreed the lead actors gave strong performances and that the film succeeded in delivering some genuine chills and suspense surrounding the couple’s fight for survival.
How did Red Knot perform at the box office?
Unfortunately, Red Knot was a commercial failure and flop at the box office:
- The film had a very limited theatrical release, opening in just 3 theaters its first weekend.
- It went on to gross only $8,796 in its entire theatrical run.
- Playing in few theaters and with little promotion, Red Knot flew under the radar for most mainstream audiences.
- It failed to recoup its production budget of an estimated $3 million.
Some contributing factors in Red Knot’s poor box office performance include:
- Lack of star power – The film lacked any big name draws amongst its cast.
- Tough competition – It opened the same weekend as major wide releases including The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
- Limited appeal – The indie survival drama likely held limited appeal for mass audiences.
- Weak reviews – The mixed critical reception didn’t help generate significant interest.
While the film ultimately lost money theatrically, it likely found more viewers later on through video-on-demand releases and streaming platforms where indie titles often gain more traction.
What were some notable production details about Red Knot?
- It was shot on location in Antarctica, presenting major production challenges.
- The frigid shoot required cast and crew to bundle up in extreme cold weather gear.
- Director Scott Cohen had to meet specialized criteria to receive permits to film in Antarctica.
- Olivia Thirlby and Vincent Kartheiser did many of their own stunts amid the harsh conditions.
- A team of expert climbers aided the production and ensured safety protocols.
- The remote location provided stunning and authentic backdrops.
- Green screen was used sparingly with most scenes shot on the real Antarctic terrain.
Shooting on location in the treacherous climate of Antarctica posed difficulties but also lent the film a gritty realism. It captured the continent’s lethal yet beautiful landscape which becomes a formidable character itself in the story.
How have Olivia Thirlby and Vincent Kartheiser discussed making Red Knot?
The two lead actors have shared insights into the demanding shoot and what the Red Knot experience was like in interviews:
- Thirlby described the “physically and mentally exhausting” daily ritual of bundling up into 35 lbs of clothing to withstand Subzero temperatures.
- Kartheiser said they trained for months learning survival skills like ice climbing in preparation for the role.
- Both leads emphasized the sense of isolation and danger they felt filming in such a remote wilderness setting.
- Thirlby spoke about the intimacy it created between them as co-stars to go through such an extreme adventure together.
- Kartheiser highlighted the awe he felt witnessing majestic Antarctic visuals like breaching whales and the Southern Lights.
The insights shared by the actors reveal just how demanding and unique an experience starring in Red Knot proved to be thanks to the on-location filming in punishing Antarctic conditions.
How did Red Knot address themes of marriage and relationships?
At its core, Red Knot is an intimate character study of a newly married couple experiencing problems right from the start. Several key themes around relationships arise in the film:
- Discovering differences – Chloe and Peter only start to uncover deep differences after their wedding, from contrasting timelines for starting a family to their responses to stress.
- Facing challenges – Stuck in a crisis, they are forced to truly confront their issues instead of glossing them over.
- Rebuilding intimacy – Isolated together, they ultimately try to reconnect and find common ground after a period of alienation from each other.
- Compromise and understanding – In the end, the experience changes them and they learn to listen and make space for each other’s needs.
While using the survival scenario as a plot device, Red Knot is largely concerned with exploring the nuances and difficulties of intimate partnerships through Chloe and Peter’s strained marriage.
How did the setting of Antarctica come into play in Red Knot?
The desolate, extreme setting of Antarctica proves central to Red Knot’s drama and thematic concerns:
- The icy vastness heightens the couple’s sense of terrifying isolation.
- Freezing, bleak landscapes mirror the emotional distance growing between them.
- The barren environment strips them back to their primal core.
- Battling the elements forces raw, true aspects of themselves and their relationship to surface.
- Ultimately, Antarctica’s harsh yet simple beauty helps reconnect them to what matters most.
- Stripped of distractions, they rediscover their love below the layers.
The pristine but punishing Antarctic wilderness serves as the perfect setting for the unfinished love story between Chloe and Peter to unfold in elemental ways.
Conclusion
Red Knot presents a survival tale of a newly married couple stranded in Antarctica who must battle the elements while also grappling with tensions in their relationship. Driven by strong central performances from Olivia Thirlby and Vincent Kartheiser, the film delivers taut drama and suspense even if its story borders on familiar territory. Visually stunning frozen landscapes ground the movie in an authentic sense of place. While not a great commercial success, Red Knot earns praise as an intimate character study navigating the joys and trials of marriage. Central themes of rediscovering connection and understanding in relationships are heightened by the extreme but beautiful Antarctic setting.
