Winters Bone is a really clever murder mystery, but that is not what makes it so special. Following Ree (Jennifer Lawrence), the teenage daughter and caretaker of her handicapped mother and two siblings, as she races across the Ozark Mountains to try and find her father. There is a sense of urgency throughout the film that is very palpable. Ree’s father, a local thug and drug-dealer/user, put the family’s house up as collateral for bail and then skips town. Ree has to find him to ensure he shows up to his trial, which is in a week’s time, or they lose the house. While the story is compelling, it is the film’s aesthetic that truly succeeds. Infusing subtle noir touches, director Debra Granik creates a chilling ambience set in a rural Missouri that is beyond frightening. The acting here is spectacular, particularly the transformative Lawrence and the character actor John Hawkes, who gives the performance of his career. More suspenseful than most horror/thrillers that get a theatrical release, Winter’s Bone is soaked in realism; even going so far as to hire non-actors for major roles and filming on location. Hauntingly honest, this film deserves its recognition and should be seen.