Ice Road: Vengeanceis a fun action thriller that makes good use of its setting, and cleverly lays out a simple narrative. Jonathan Hensleigh, who wroteArmageddon,The Punisher, andJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, wrote and directed this feature as asequel to his 2021 Netflix film,The Ice Road. However, if you haven’t seen the original movie, the story here is self-contained.
Mike McCann, played by the incredible Liam Neeson, is looking to honor his recently deceased brother. They had previously dreamed of conquering Mount Everest together, but now that Gurty has passed away, Mike is determined to make the journey for both of them. Unfortunately, his trip is interrupted when some mercenaries hijack a bus taking him to the mountain.
Ice Road: Vengeancehas a strong story, great performers, beautiful backdrops, and a gripping action plot. The writing and director are excellent, and the film balances action and high thrills with humor and emotional moments. And while the visual effects are a little clunky, it’s easily forgivable due to everything else working together smoothly.
Ice Road: Vengeancehas a strong story, great performers, beautiful backdrops, and a gripping action plot.
It’s clear that Hensleigh knows how to tell a story, and how to make the action work in a film. And with collaborators like Neeson, with whom he has worked with previously, the film achieves everything it sets out to do. There are some slower moments, asIce Road: Vengeancetries to follow the emotional connection to Mike’s dead brother, but even these make sense within the film. And despite a tonal shift, it complements the overall piece.
As opposed to other independent films which land a big name in a leading role,Ice Road: Vengeancestill makes a huge effort to ensure the supporting cast and the narrative shine bright. As a result,Liam Neeson’s presenceis not out of place, and the rest of the characters have their moments. There are minor glimpses of blank stares when there should be emotion, but these are rare and brief.
The fact thatIce Road: Vengeanceis a sequel film leads to one of the most erroneous issues with the piece — it has very little to do with any ice roads. But Mike McCann joins the ranks of other action characters like Neeson’s own Bryan Mills from theTakenseries.
Ice Road: Vengeanceis an excellent action film, with all the qualities of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Besides Neeson, another standout performance is delivered by Bingbing Fan, who plays Dhani. She holds her own in every scene she appears and delivers some of the biggest and best action sequences throughout. The antagonists of the story are also incredibly menacing, and it makes for a compelling and intense journey from start to finish.
Ice Road: Vengeanceis an overall excellent action film, with all the qualities of a Hollywood blockbuster. The unique story highlights interesting ethical issues for individuals in a less-developed country, and Neeson’s Mike is a convincing action hero. Hopefully Hensleigh will continue his work with Neeson to deliver more thrilling stories just likeIce Road: Vengeancein the future.
Ice Road: Vengeanceis playing now in select theaters across the US.
Ice Road: Vengeance
Cast
Ice Road: Vengeance follows big rig ice road driver Mike McCann as he embarks on a journey to Nepal to honor his late brother. Navigating the perilous Road to the Sky, McCann and his guide confront mercenaries, aiming to protect fellow travelers and local villagers. Released in 2025, the film explores themes of survival and protection.
