The Ice Storm

StudioCanal are releasing The Ice Storm on Blu-ray. Ang Lee's family drama based on the book by Rick Moody is a truly beautiful film. Director Lee and cinematographer Frederick Elmes use of light when filming the covering of ice left by the storm is something that should be seen in highest quality format possible. Elmes would collaborate on a couple more films with Lee though none quite as striking as this one.

The disc comes with one brand new special feature Inside The Ice Storm: Interview with Christina Ricci. She talks to camera about her casting, making the film and how she feels about it now (it's one of her favourites). There are also a few interviews from an old EPK (Electronic Press Kit) In these Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen, Christina Ricci and Elijah Wood all do little promotional pieces to camera.

Presentation-wise the disk and packaging are aesthetically in keeping with the film. There are two annoyances. The first is that the music that plays during the Blu-ray's title screen is annoying. The Ice Storm's score by Mychael Dannab is an excellent piece of work. It is one short part of it, in which a single motif is repeated, that is used as a loop on this screen. The second is that there is no obvious way to go back in the menu system. It takes a few attempts to find the right button on the remote.

Reviewed on: 23 Nov 2025