When communication is cut off at an antarctica-based government outpost following a series
of mysterious deaths, Captain Sam Cage (Clayton Rohner - The Relic and Star Trek TNG) and Major Callie Wilson
(Chase Masterson - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) are sent to investigate.
Known as Ice Station Erebus, this center for environmental research is in fact being used as a
front for illegal mining operations. they find a survivor, though terrified, recounts the events of
the past 24 hours and shows them the grisly remains of a mining engineer.
Securing the main living quarters, Sam and Callie must seal off the mine level by level. as they
descend the cavernous depths, they hear bone-chilling noises on the roof. The besieged group
is baffled - no human could survive the sub-zero temperature outside.
Sensing that they are being stalked by a malevolent presence, Sam is convinced the whole
place is a gateway to evil and they must escape at all costs.
Chase plays Major Callie Wilson, as a no-nonsense military officer trying to deal with the trouble at Ice Station Erebus in Antartica. Most of
the research team is killed off and then the unsurvivable Antartic night falls, trapping the survivors in
the main living quarters. What began as a simple investigation turns into a deadly battle
against the forces of ultimate evil.
This is the third in a series of movies of similar title, all loosely based
on Stephen King's Sometimes They Come Back. It starts out out as a nonstop
action story. Major Wilson and Captain Cage rappel out of a helicopter, and hit the
ground running, both figuratively and literally. Problem is, about halfway through
the film, the momentum stops dead, figuratively and literally, and never quite hits stride
again. About the same time as the plot bogs down, Chase's character becomes less important.
Coincidence? I think not!
It is noteworthy to mention that there are two strong female leads in this horror film,
Chase and Faith Ford (playing the romantic interest/damsel in distress). Both characters are
competent, capable, and handle themselves believably. In fact, Chase's character could have
played by a man with no difference in how the character worked. Compare that with a horror
film of yore, where the female cast was there exclusively for cleavage and victim status.
perceptions have thankfully changed.