Centigrade (2020) is a tense survival thriller inspired by true events, focusing on the terrifying vulnerability of being trapped by nature in the most ordinary of circumstances. The film follows a young American couple, Matt and Naomi, who are traveling through the remote countryside of Norway during the winter. What begins as a quiet road trip quickly turns into a nightmare when their car becomes immobilized during a sudden and extreme snowstorm.

After stopping briefly on a deserted road, Matt and Naomi return to their vehicle only to realize that it is completely buried under snow. The doors are frozen shut, the windows are sealed, and the temperature outside has dropped far below zero. With no cell phone signal and no idea if anyone even knows where they are, the couple is forced to remain inside the car, using what little warmth and resources they have to survive the freezing conditions.

As the hours stretch into days, the film narrows its focus to the physical and emotional strain of confinement. Food and water begin to run out, oxygen becomes a growing concern, and the cold slowly seeps into their bodies despite their efforts to insulate themselves. Matt struggles to maintain hope and control, while Naomi’s condition grows more fragile, especially as it is revealed that she is pregnant. This detail adds a powerful emotional layer, turning survival into a fight not just for themselves, but for their unborn child.

The relationship between Matt and Naomi is tested under the relentless pressure. Moments of tenderness clash with fear, frustration, and guilt as they confront their mistakes and unspoken doubts. The film uses long silences, tight framing, and the claustrophobic interior of the car to emphasize how isolation amplifies every emotion. Nature itself becomes an invisible antagonist, indifferent and unforgiving.

Rather than relying on action or spectacle, Centigrade builds tension through realism and restraint. The audience is made to feel the slow passage of time, the exhaustion, and the creeping despair that come with prolonged entrapment. Small decisions carry enormous weight, and hope becomes a fragile, flickering thing.

Ultimately, Centigrade is less about survival tactics and more about human resilience. It explores how love, responsibility, and determination can persist even when circumstances seem utterly hopeless. By the end, the film leaves a lasting impression of how quickly life can change—and how survival sometimes depends on endurance, faith, and the will to keep breathing in the coldest moments imaginable.