MR. FROST

In this suspenseful and cerebral film that is a kind of “what is the nature of Satan” excursion, the Prince of Darkness alights on earth as Mr. Frost, a psychopathic killer with remarkable powers and great charisma. His aim is to take back ground lost in recent decades due to a rise in reliance on science and a subsequent decline of faith (thus implying that science drives back evil).

Jeff Goldblum plays the mysterious Mr. Frost, a charmingly manipulative mental patient in a psychiatric hospital convicted of torturing, mutilating and burying 24 victims on his English country estate. After two years of complete silence, when he is transferred to a Psychotherapy Institute in France where he meets Dr. Sarah Day, he finally opens up to the brilliant psychiatrist in a sly battle of wills.

To her, Mr. Frost professes to be Satan, giving her incontrovertible proof of his claim. Furthermore, to regain his “lost ground,” he sets out to die a martyr’s death to prove that he, Satan, is “stronger than passing time.” Dr. Day comes to believe him, but is powerless to prevent the snowballing events compelling her to carry out his request that she kill him.

Thus, the struggle between antagonist and protagonist. To her, killing him is an admission of the impotence of psychotherapy, and the failure of her life’s profession. To him, death is a mere facade, to be passed beyond as we pass through doorways.

Jeff Goldblum plays a magnetic Mr. Frost with great mystery, power and intelligence. “What do you mean, do I remember?” he asks. “I am memory.” His mystic manipulation of others is never so obvious as to compel certain characters to believe that he is Satan, a credit to the skillful way the screenplay is written. As mentioned before, MR. FROST is not a horror flick with spinning heads and green pea soup, but rather a cerebral excursion attempting to show the skillful subtlety of Satan.

However, the real Satan has woven his own subtle deception into the film. That is, here his power works for good as well as evil, and his main aim in coming back is the altruistic motive of causing people to again believe in the black and white nature of good and evil.

God, however, is not mentioned (except in passing), and there is no acknowledgement of the Savior’s mastery over Satan. It therefore seems that one is to believe in Satan, but leave their understanding of the Lord to just a mere intellectual nod toward the opposite of evil. There is no titanic struggle of good versus evil, just evil having its way in a field of humans incapable of binding his power.

MR. FROST doesn’t need to be boycotted, but should be recognized for what it is: an inaccurate portrayal of Satan. It fails to deliver the truth that he is the Destroyer, a thief and a liar. One comes away thinking that Satan holds great knowledge and wisdom that we would all be greater for knowing, yet this is the same lie he told to Eve in the garden.

MR. FROST is not appropriate for theologically unsteady youth who don’t know how to discern the truth. The Liar looks so sanguine and pleasant, though dangerously magnetic. The Word of God, though, is clear in saying that “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

So resist him, and he will flee from you. However, remember, Satan doesn’t fear your resisting him. He only flees when he sees your submission to God.

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