High-Octane
Summary
Chill Factor is a bit of a forgotten gem with a decent cast and some entertaining action scenes making it well worth revisiting.
Plot: A new biological chemical weapon that explodes up to temperatures over fifty degrees Fahrenheit, falls into the hands of two men who try to make sure that it doesn’t get stolen by a terrorist.
Review: There are some films that you remember liking that you haven’t seen in a long time, sometimes some of those films hold up well while some don’t at all. Chill Factor is one is more the former.
This is one of those films that takes a familiar premise that we’ve all seen before and has fun with it by keeping the story simple without making it feel too convoluted.
Both Skeet Ulrich and Cuba Gooding Jr. make for a surprisingly good pairing with some some fun banter displayed throughout. Peter Firth makes for an entertaining villain who I’d compare more akin to Ed Harris’s character General Hummel from The Rock albeit not as good. It’s also nice to see actors like David Paymer and Kevin J O’Connor show up for this as well.
The action that’s displayed is solid which mostly consists of car chases; so don’t expect too much gunplay here.
Hugh Johnson showcases here how he had the potential to be a capable director as he keeps the film at a brisk pace without making the film feel rushed or too chaotic.
Overall, Chill Factor is a fun film that boasts a decent cast, has some enjoyable action, features some great cinematography, and is well-directed.