The Ice Storm
An ice storm exposes the brittle marriages, adolescent restlessness, and emotional vacancy beneath a 1973 Connecticut suburb’s Thanksgiving rituals.
Overview
A Thanksgiving weekend unravels the fragile bonds of a family caught in a storm of secrets and lies.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- witty
- mournful
- quiet evening
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Ang Lee’s deft, visually assured portrait of 1970s suburban ennui, finding its emotional restraint and ensemble performances both gripping and deeply poignant.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Hood and Carver families navigate infidelity, boredom, and emotional isolation in 1973 Connecticut.
Ben, Elena, Wendy, and Paul remain isolated from one another while maintaining the appearance of family normalcy.
The approaching ice storm transforms the Thanksgiving weekend and gives physical form to the family's instability.
The film places its characters amid the shifting expectations and disorientation of early-1970s America.
Films like The Ice Storm, and why
American Beauty
shared dysfunctional suburban families, marital alienation, and darkly comic emotional observation
The Virgin Suicides
shared 1970s American setting, adolescent disaffection, and melancholic family drama
Little Children
shared ensemble suburban dysfunction, sexual secrecy, and incisive social satire
Ordinary People
shared wintry atmosphere, fractured family relationships, and restrained psychological drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Ang Lee
- Release Date
- 1997-09-27
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (768)
Cast
- Kevin Kline
- Joan Allen
- Sigourney Weaver
- Jamey Sheridan
- Christina Ricci
- Tobey Maguire
- Elijah Wood
- Adam Hann-Byrd
- Michael Cumpsty
- Katie Holmes
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Ice Storm about?
- An ice storm exposes the brittle marriages, adolescent restlessness, and emotional vacancy beneath a 1973 Connecticut suburb’s Thanksgiving rituals.
- What is The Ice Storm like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ice Storm as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Ice Storm violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Ice Storm as mild.
- What did critics think of The Ice Storm?
- Critics broadly praised Ang Lee’s deft, visually assured portrait of 1970s suburban ennui, finding its emotional restraint and ensemble performances both gripping and deeply poignant.
- Which films are like The Ice Storm?
- Films with a similar feel include American Beauty, The Virgin Suicides, Little Children, and Ordinary People.
- How long is The Ice Storm?
- The Ice Storm runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ice Storm?
- In United States, The Ice Storm is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
