Andrew Haigh’s *A Long Winter* follows a divided 1950s Colorado family as teenage Mike faces his brother’s departure, his mother’s alcoholism and disappearance, his father’s emotional distance, and his emerging sexuality. The review argues that, despite strong visuals and a well-chosen ensemble, the film is Haigh’s first misfire because its personal themes feel awkwardly transplanted into an underdeveloped period setting.

The critic says the film’s treatment of isolation, queer identity and family breakdown is too broad, while its dialogue lacks the naturalistic, emotionally precise writing found in Haigh’s earlier work. The limited depiction of the outside world makes the era and social context unclear, and casting concerns—particularly Fred Hechinger appearing too old for Mike and Kit Connor playing his older brother despite being younger—further weaken the story’s authenticity.