A Riveting Survival Tale Rooted in Humanity
J.A. Bayona’s Society of the Snow (La Sociedad de la Nieve) is not just a retelling of the infamous 1972 Andes plane crash — it’s a harrowing meditation on survival, faith, and what it truly means to be human in the face of insurmountable odds. Told in Spanish with a culturally accurate cast, the film immerses viewers in the chilling true story of the Uruguayan rugby team whose flight crashed in the snow-covered Andes Mountains, leaving survivors to fend for themselves in sub-zero isolation for over two months.
Stunning Visuals and Gritty Realism
A Masterclass in Visual Storytelling
Bayona, known for his ability to blend horror with emotion (The Orphanage, The Impossible), delivers a cinematic experience that is both viscerally intense and hauntingly beautiful. Cinematographer Pedro Luque captures the desolate beauty of the Andes through sweeping wide shots juxtaposed with claustrophobic close-ups that mirror the survivors’ physical and emotional confinement. The plane crash and subsequent avalanche scenes are executed with shocking realism — you can practically feel the snow closing in and the bones breaking.
Grounded Effects, Elevated Tension
Despite the use of digital effects, the realism is so seamless it almost feels documentary-like. Bayona uses every frame not just to show suffering, but to immerse us in it. The cold, the hunger, the slow erosion of the human body — nothing is glamorized. Yet somehow, the pain is tempered with moments of solidarity and grace.
The Ethical Dilemma of Survival
Faith vs. Flesh
One of the film’s most powerful undercurrents is its philosophical exploration of morality and faith. As the survivors grapple with their deteriorating bodies and vanishing hope, a haunting question begins to shape their decisions: What happens when the world deserts you?
When radio signals fade and the search efforts are called off, the group is left in a void — abandoned not just by civilization, but by the structures of morality and faith that once guided them. With no food and no help, they’re forced to reconsider the very essence of right and wrong. The film doesn’t sensationalize their choices, especially around cannibalism; instead, it presents them as human responses to impossible circumstances.
Bayona treats these moments with solemnity and restraint. The survivors’ decisions — whether to eat or abstain, to hope or surrender — reflect the shifting moral compass that comes when survival outweighs belief. Rather than judging them, the film allows their inner turmoil to speak for itself, showing how quickly certainty erodes when the world turns silent.
Unflinching Performances
Enzo Vogrincic leads a talented ensemble cast, delivering a subdued, introspective performance as Numa, the narrator. Other standouts include Diego Vegezzi as the group’s reluctant leader and Esteban Kukuriczka, whose portrayal of quiet strength and empathy adds a tender layer to the brutality. Their emotional deterioration is just as gripping as the physical — perhaps more so.
Friendship in the Face of Fatality
Brotherhood as Lifeline
What elevates Society of the Snow above a typical disaster film is its unwavering focus on human connection. These aren’t nameless survivors; they are brothers, friends, sons — each with a story, a memory, a dream. In between the horrors, Bayona captures moments of warmth: a shared joke, a gentle touch, the unspoken understanding between two people facing death together. These moments remind us that compassion can exist even amid desperation.
Not Without Flaws
While the film’s narration offers insight into the survivors’ inner turmoil, it occasionally over-explains what is already powerfully shown on screen. The large ensemble means some characters blur together, and the film’s pacing dips slightly in the middle. Still, these are minor issues in an otherwise exceptional film.
Final Verdict
Society of the Snow is a haunting, emotionally resonant survival thriller that refuses to exploit its subject. Instead, it honors it — offering not just a story of staying alive, but of what it means to live.
Bullseye Rating:★★★★ (4/5 stars)
A powerful survival drama based on the 1972 Andes plane crash, Society of the Snow on Netflix blends visual spectacle with emotional depth. Gripping, philosophical, and culturally authentic — a must-watch.
Now streaming on Netflix.