Cold Pursuit

Cold Pursuit

Year: 2019

Runtime: 119 min

Language: English

Director: Hans Petter Moland

Echo Score: 52

Budget: $60M

ActionDramaThrillerCrime

A peaceful life is shattered when tragedy strikes, prompting Nels Coxman to seek answers and descend into a dangerous quest for vengeance. He believes the ruthless drug lord known as Viking is responsible for his son's death, and embarks on a dark crusade against him. As his search for justice intensifies, Nels transforms, shedding his ordinary existence and becoming an unstoppable force driven by fury, leaving a devastating trail of destruction.

Cold Pursuit (2019) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Cold Pursuit (2019) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the snow‑capped town of Kehoe, Colorado, the rhythm of life is measured by the steady hum of snowplows and the quiet pride of a community that honors its own. Nels Coxman epitomises this calm, a diligent operator who has earned the town’s respect through hard work and humility. His world is one of crisp winter air, tight‑knit neighbors, and a modest, loving home that seems insulated from the turbulence beyond the mountain’s edge.

That fragile equilibrium is shattered when a personal tragedy strikes, tearing the family apart and leaving Nels awash in grief and unanswered questions. The loss of his son forces him to confront a darkness he never imagined existed beneath the pristine surface of his town, and it pulls him toward a path of relentless pursuit. He becomes convinced that a shadowy figure known only as Viking, a notorious drug lord, bears responsibility, and the promise of retribution begins to reshape his identity.

As Nels steps away from his ordinary duties, the stark, icy landscape mirrors his internal transformation. The film’s tone is gritty and atmospheric, blending the stark beauty of the mountains with a cold, methodical tension that builds around each deliberate move he makes. The once‑gentle snow‑plow driver evolves into a figure of quiet menace, his resolve hardening like the frozen ground he once cleared.

The story balances the stark, wintry setting with a brooding, almost meditative mood, inviting viewers to watch a man grapple with loss, honor, and the seductive pull of vengeance. In this world where the line between justice and obsession blurs, every breath of wind seems to carry a promise of reckoning, leaving the audience poised on the edge of a relentless, snow‑laden pursuit.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 02:03

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Grim revenge films in hostile landscapes like Cold Pursuit

Where a frigid setting mirrors the cold fury of a protagonist seeking bloody retribution.If you enjoyed the cold, vengeful atmosphere of Cold Pursuit, explore more movies like it. This thread features gritty revenge thrillers and crime dramas where the setting intensifies the story's emotional and moral chill, perfect for fans of stark, atmospheric tales of retribution.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a profound personal loss that shatters the protagonist's ordinary life. This event triggers a methodical and often brutal quest for revenge, where the protagonist's transformation is paralleled by the unforgiving nature of the setting. The story unfolds with a steady, relentless pace, leading to a conclusion that often carries a heavy price.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their powerful synthesis of mood and setting. They share a dark, grim tone, high emotional intensity from themes of grief and loss, and a visual and thematic aesthetic where the environment is integral to the story's cold, vengeful heart.

Movies about gang war spirals like Cold Pursuit

Stories where a single act of vengeance triggers an uncontrollable chain reaction of violence.For viewers who liked the escalating gang conflict in Cold Pursuit, this section finds similar movies about retaliation spirals. Discover crime dramas and thrillers where a vigilante's actions trigger a bloody war, featuring organized crime, moral ambiguity, and a steady build-up of tension.

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Narrative Summary

The plot is set in motion by a single, often personal, act of aggression or revenge. This initial event sparks a series of retaliatory strikes between rival groups, escalating in scale and brutality. The narrative follows multiple perspectives within the conflict, creating a complex web where no one emerges unscathed, leading to an ending marked by widespread devastation.

Why These Movies?

They are united by a specific plot structure: the cause-and-effect chain reaction of violence. They share a steady pacing that builds tension, a dark tone, and a thematic focus on the futility and moral cost of cyclical violence within the world of organized crime.

Unlock the Full Story of Cold Pursuit

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Cold Pursuit Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Cold Pursuit, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Cold Pursuit Summary

Cold Pursuit Timeline

Track the full timeline of Cold Pursuit with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Cold Pursuit Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Cold Pursuit

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Cold Pursuit. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Cold Pursuit

Cold Pursuit Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Cold Pursuit? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Cold Pursuit Ending Explained

More About Cold Pursuit

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Discover movies like Cold Pursuit that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.