stemal-1 An intriguing idea for a film whose claustrophobic set-up appealed, let alone the more obvious danger facing our protagonists.Made by the people behind one of my 2015 Top 20 films, Landmine Goes Click.What can go wrong? Actually not that much technically, but still a terrible waste of a good idea.It manages to turn the premise of three people stuck in a sauna trying to avoid melting into an incredibly dull and uninvolving experience. There is little tension generated and it's hard to care about these people. The short prelude promises something interesting that goes nowhere. The Wade red herring was a predictable but welcome distraction until it was resolved way too soon and with zero audience satisfaction. Seemed very much an afterthought.Overall this is an OK time-waster. My enjoyment nosedived as time wore on, but it's not the worst way to spend 90 minutes.

Steve Pulaski I despise the heat with a passion. I'd rather be under certain acts of torture than be exposed to long term heat. Unfortunately, the characters in 247°F do not have a choice. They become trapped in a sauna, deflated by excruciatingly intolerable heat while they are left to fry and have their skin sweat to disintegration. We're approaching winter in Chicago and in certain sequences I felt like I was drowning in my own sweat and exhaustion watching this film.The story centers on four college kids who venture out to a remote cabin owned by one of the kids' uncles who has graciously allowed them to spend the night there after they return home from a late night party. The kids are nervous Jenna (Scout Taylor-Compton), straight-laced Ian (Travis Van Winkle), obnoxious Michael (Michael Copon), and bitchy Renee (Christina Ulloa), and the cabin owner is Ian's uncle Wade (Tyler Mane), who also offers up his man-made sauna in his backyard. The teens immediately decide to spend some of the evening jumping from the sauna to the lake, then back to the sauna.Then, as party time approaches, Michael becomes drunk and bothers his long-suffering girlfriend Renee, leading to her, Jenna, and Ian staying in the sauna while Michael lumbers around drunk outside. Suddenly, an abrupt pang of something falling is heard in the air, and the next thing the three know, they can't get out of the sauna because the giant wooden door is stuck. The homeowner is gone, Michael is passed out drunk, and no one is nearby to help the unfortunate teenagers. At first, it's almost a unanimous consensus that this mishap is a cruel joke by Michael, but as time goes by and the sauna temperature sits uncomfortably at 184°F, they begin to rationalize that Michael could not be this sadistic to stretch out a joke for this long.Considering the fact that claustrophobic films are difficult to accomplish and more difficult to even find in a market dominated by "the-next-big-thing." 247°F is perhaps the best movie about a group of friends being trapped in a sauna increasing in temperature that could be made. It's unfortunate that the characters are rather underwritten, but it is quite a blessing that their actions once locked in the sauna are sensible and believable. They seem to consider options and consequences of their actions more seriously rather than impulsively breaking things and spewing senseless chatter. Although the characters do often yell, it seems to be more fitting because they are hot, exhausted, and noticeably drained of their energy.One could view 247°F as an eighty-eight minute continuation of the infamous tanning bed scene in Final Destination 3, as we watch these three characters helplessly fry, unsure of how to respond. The film's strength is in character-subtleties, but its shortcomings are in dialog and development. It pales in comparison to genre greats like Frozen and Open Water, yet it satisfies someone who religiously seeks out these films, no matter what contraption the characters are stuck in rather it's an isolated ATM kiosk, a ski-lift chair, or an elevator. Claustrophobic films are especially difficult films to make because they requires character dialog and human interest. I return to the idea that this is probably the most accomplished film about characters being locked in a sauna that the public will ever see.Starring: Scout Taylor-Compton, Travis Van Winkle, Christina Ulloa, Michael Copon, and Tyler Mane. Directed by: Levan Bakhia and Beqa Jguburia.

richbolis This movie was quite excellent at times the guy Michael was pretty stupid and ends up regretting it at the end of the movie. I suggest you watch this movie it is a thriller, sometimes ratings are wrong but this movie is underrated i saw it on DVD very good they should have had it in theater and it is a true story wow shocking unbelievable movie !!!!!!! At times it gets unrealistic but it being true at that temperature that is unbelievable , though this is a good movie the problem is many people have not heard about it this is simply terrific, i suggest you see it any way you can because this is worthwhile watching!!!!!

Robert W. Maybe I'm just watching too many movies. This past week has been full of under-performing duds for me. I love horror flicks but I'm really struggling to find good ones lately. I thought 247 degrees actually at least looked like it had a low budget, decent story, interesting concept and some eye candy. All of that is true except the decent story part. It does have decent actors and the characters have some depth although the entire back story of the main girl feels forced and pointless. You know with the opening scene that its going to play a part in the story but it ultimately matters very little. They could have explained that arc in her story with just a few sentences of dialogue. Once they get everyone into the sauna and things could get interesting...it just doesn't. It almost completely falls apart. One reviewer stated that this could have been summed in a very interesting 30 minute episode of a TV show and that is exactly the truth. Instead it drags on with pointless sub characters and completely misses the mark of what it could have been.Scout Taylor-Compton basically plays her "Laurie Strode" type character all over again. She's likely not a bad actress but even for being the innocent sweet girl she doesn't give much to the film. They give her this big introduction as to why her character is the way she is but it matters very little. Travis Van Winkle definitely gives the best performance in the film. Its not that he blows it away or anything but he's likable and gives the nice guy role a decent shot. Michael Copon is one of the useless characters unfortunately for him. He starts out as the stereotypical wise cracking horny "best pal" and then they basically write him out for any of the important scenes and you realize how useless his character is. Christina Ulloa is your eye candy girl. She's the confident, promiscuous friend and she actually does pretty good as well. Both her and Van Winkle fit their prospective roles and they do exactly what you expect from them and in a horror movie that's good enough for the most part. Tyler Mane is a completely disposable pointless character brought in strictly for Rob Zombie Halloween fans.It is just disappointing for a huge horror fan like myself that has seen such countless films worthy of crap lately. Then I saw this and I hoped it would turn in at least a watchable experience. They have all their ducks in a row. Horror movies are not difficult. You can make them as typical and predictable as you like and fans will like them. The recipe is so easy. And they do use a lot of that recipe and then they forget to add the meat and potatoes and you're left with a very empty experience. The movie reads well, some of the aforementioned performances are decent enough but the story completely falls apart. This one unfortunately is a complete miss. It isn't the worst I have seen lately by any stretch of imagination but its also not worthy of wasting any time on it. 4/10