Director: Scott Walker; Screenwriter: Scott Walker; Starring: Nicolas Cage, Vanessa Hudgens (interview), John Cusack, Radha Mitchell, Curtis Jackson ;Running time: 105 mins; Certificate: 15

Based on the shocking true tale of a serial killer who terrorised Alaska, The Frozen Ground is an admirable thriller bursting with tension and superb turns by its stars Vanessa Hudgens, Nicolas Cage and John Cusack.

Set in 1983, the grim tale concentrates on battered teenage prostitute Cindy (Hudgens), who tells police she escaped from the clutches of a local man intent on killing her. The testimony is largely derided, but state trooper Jack Halcombe (Cage) believes she could hold the key to solving the mystery behind the bodies of young ladies that have been found buried beneath the ice. But Jack's attempts to question shady animal hunter Robert Hansen (Cusack) do not go to plan, nor do his efforts to keep Cindy off the dangerous streets.

The centre of the movie is Jack,...