“Con Air’’ stars Nicolas Cage and John Cusack are reunited in this well-crafted serial-killer thriller, which is far better than you’d expect from a film getting only a token theatrical run concurrent with its video-on-demand debut.
Based on a true story that’s inspired at least one earlier movie as well as several TV episodes, it’s set in 1984 Alaska, where, just before he leaves for a less demanding job, trooper Cage is assigned to investigate the murder of a young woman whose mutilated body is found in a remote area.
Cage figures out the killer’s MO matches up with accusations made by a hooker (Vanessa Hudgens) who claims she recently escaped from a nerdy but respected John (Cusack) who had served time for rape years earlier.
The first feature by New Zealander Scott Walker, “The Frozen Ground’’ is a taut procedural with atmospheric location work that traces Cage’s clock-racing efforts to find evidence against Cusack, who is eventually charged with more than 20 murders.
Cusack and Cage — who don’t have any scenes together until halfway through — do their best work in years, while erstwhile “High School Musical’’ star Hudgens shows off acting chops missing in “Spring Breakers.’’ Radha Mitchell and Curtis “50 Cent’’ Jackson fare less well in thankless roles as Cage’s unhappy wife and Hudgens’ pimp.