Netflix's "Society of the Snow" stirs buzz with harrowing tale of Andes plane crash

The film is the latest work from the author of the renowned 2007 horror "Orphanage". It has just landed on the streaming platform and already stirred quite a buzz. "Society of the Snow" by J.A. Bayona, based on his script co-written with Nicolas Casariego (taking inspiration from Pablo Vierciego's book), recounts the tragic events that occurred in the Andes in 1972, when a Uruguayan aircraft crashed.

This moving production emphasizes the plight of the survivors who had to rely solely on themselves and each other for more than two months. The film, awarded two European Film Awards for make-up and hairstyling and special effects, and nominated for a Golden Globe for Best International Feature Film, has provoked extreme reactions among its viewers.

The film, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, has received high praise from critics. Currently, with 90 reviews, it boasts a 90% "freshness rating" on Rotten Tomatoes. Ben Kenigsberg of the "New York Times" made a particularly noteworthy comment. "'Society of the Snow' is a subversive movie, which most people would watch on Netflix, in the comfort of their own homes, with the fridge nearby," he wrote.

Despite the comfort of home viewing conditions which Kenigsberg rightly points out, the harrowing true story and its intense visual depiction can significantly unsettle viewers. Adding to the chilling effect is the fact that the catastrophe sequence was shot at the actual location, over 50 years after the tragic event.