Dead of Winter: Emma Thompson's Chilling Thriller Releases On VOD October 21

Dead of Winter, a chilly thriller starring Harry Potter alum Emma Thompson, is no trip to Hogsmeade. However, the indie movie that has earned a solid Rotten Tomatoes score can be something for viewers to enjoy in the warmth of their own home, as the film has set its video-on-demand release date.

Starting Tuesday, October 21, viewers can buy or rent Dead of Winter on VOD platforms, including Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video. The movie is currently available to pre-order on all of those platforms. The film had a limited release in movie theaters starting on September 26, though it was only shown in just over 600 locations.

From a script by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson & Dalton Lee, and directed by Brian Kirk, Dead of Winter takes place during a blizzard, with a grief-stricken loner (Thompson) getting lost on the Minnesotan backroads. When she comes across a remote cabin, she discovers a young woman (Laurel Marsden) kidnapped by a couple (Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca) intent on murder. The loner becomes the young woman’s only hope for survival.

Watch the trailer below:

The rest of the Dead of Winter cast includes Gaia Wise, Cuan Hosty-Blaney, Dalton Leeb, Paul Hamilton, Lloyd Hutchinson, and Brian F. O’Byrne. In addition to leading the film, Thompson is also an executive producer on the project.

Critics gave Dead of Winter a warm enough reception, as the movie earned a 77% “Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. General audiences that saw the movie also rated it favorable, with 79% giving it a positive score. ScreenRant’s Dead of Winter review specifically praised Thompson and Greer’s performances.

Having not appeared on-screen since 2022, Thompson, who played Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter franchise, has had a busy year in 2025. She previously starred in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Meanwhile she is also set to star in the new Apple TV original series Down Cemetery Road, based on a book by Slow Horses author Mick Herron.

Dead of Winter is not the only big title set to have its digital premiere on October 21. Stephen King’s The Long Walk is also hitting VOD platforms on that date, bringing the dystopian film to homes for the first time.

There is no information at this time as to where or on what streaming platform Dead of Winter is going to be made available. VOD is the only option to watch Dead of Winter for the time being.