My entire audience was dead silent through the credits of Society of the Snow, no one daring to so much as exhale and disturb the shock and stillness that had come over us during this film. I think this is the best man vs. nature/survival biopic I’ve ever seen, and certainly now the definitive telling of this story. Narratively it’s not anything entirely new, I wouldn’t imagine it playing out as well on a rewatch (or on Netflix sadly, see it in theaters if you can!), but J. A. Bayona brings such a grandiose and immersive feeling to this that put knots in my stomach the entire runtime. Will never forget the crash and avalanche sequences. The religious underpinnings are also tailor-made for me - this doesn’t focus as much on microscopic relationships, and I’m glad they didn’t manufacture some lord of the flies conflict because the real survivors said they never fought. Instead it asks bigger questions about how we assign meaning to life and tragedy, and where we find the divine in each other. M. Night Shyamalan needs to see this! Also, Michael Giacchino completing side quests?! The score is fantastic. I will probably rate this higher than most but I really enjoy this genre that is heavily populated by stinkers and am glad to report that this is the cream of the crop!