The Colony is a 2013 Canadian science-fiction action thriller directed by Jeff Renfroe. Set in a future where an extreme and seemingly endless winter has forced survivors to live underground, the film follows Sam, Briggs and other members of an isolated colony as they investigate a distress signal from another settlement. The movie stars Kevin Zegers, Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton in the lead roles.
Released internationally in 2013, the film combines post-apocalyptic survival, science fiction, horror and action elements. It was produced by Alcina Pictures, Item 7 and Mad Samurai Productions, with a reported budget of around $16 million.
The Colony (2013) Release Date
The Colony began its theatrical rollout in 2013, with its Canadian release taking place in April. It later received an American release on September 20, 2013. The film was also distributed in several other international markets during 2013 and 2014.
Its home-entertainment release followed the theatrical run, with DVD and Blu-ray editions becoming available in different territories. Digital and streaming availability has also varied by country and platform over the years.
The Colony Movie Cast
The film features an ensemble cast led by several well-known actors, with the story primarily centred on the survivors of Colony 7 and their dangerous journey outside the settlement.
- Kevin Zegers as Sam
- Laurence Fishburne as Briggs
- Bill Paxton as Mason
- Charlotte Sullivan as Kai
- Dru Viergever as the Feral Leader
- Atticus Mitchell as Graydon
- John Tench as Viktor
- Lisa Berry as Nara
- Romano Orzari as Reynolds
Kevin Zegers plays Sam, one of the central survivors, while Laurence Fishburne portrays Briggs, a senior member of Colony 7. Bill Paxton appears as Mason, another important figure within the colony. Charlotte Sullivan plays Kai, who remains connected to the colony while Briggs and the others leave on their mission.
The Colony Story
The story takes place in a future where humanity is struggling to survive after the planet is engulfed by an extreme climate disaster. Temperatures have fallen dramatically, and the remaining human population has moved into underground colonies to escape the freezing conditions above ground.
Colony 7 is one of these isolated settlements. Food and other resources are limited, and the survivors must deal with disease, harsh living conditions and the constant possibility that their underground shelter may not remain sustainable.
The situation changes when Colony 7 receives a distress signal from another settlement. Briggs and Sam set out with a small group to investigate the source of the transmission. Their journey takes them through the frozen landscape and eventually to a seemingly abandoned colony.
What they discover there changes the nature of their mission. The survivors encounter evidence that the people at the other settlement have faced a threat that is considerably more dangerous than the extreme weather outside.
As Sam and Briggs attempt to understand what happened, the group finds itself fighting not only against the freezing environment but also against hostile survivors known as the Ferals. The discovery forces the characters to reconsider what survival means in a world where basic social order has collapsed.
Director and Production
Jeff Renfroe directed The Colony and co-wrote the screenplay with Svet Rouskov, Patrick Tarr and Pascal Trottier. The story was developed by Patrick Tarr and Pascal Trottier.
The principal producers were Paul Barkin, Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin and Matthew Cervi. The production involved Alcina Pictures, Item 7 and Mad Samurai Productions, with additional involvement from companies including 120dB Films and Sierra/Affinity.
The film was shot in Canada, including locations in and around North Bay and Toronto, Ontario. Production also used the former underground facilities at Canadian Forces Base North Bay, which helped provide the enclosed and industrial appearance of the underground colony.
Music and Technical Crew
Jeff Danna composed the original score for the film, while Pierre Gill served as director of photography. Aaron Marshall handled editing and Aidan Leroux worked as production designer.
The visual design of the movie places considerable emphasis on the contrast between the underground settlements and the frozen landscape outside. The confined colony environments help establish the survival-focused atmosphere, while the exterior sequences present a largely frozen and hostile world.
Genre and Runtime
The Colony is generally classified as a combination of science fiction, action, horror and thriller. The film runs for approximately 95 minutes, although some listings show slightly different runtimes depending on the version or platform.
The original language is English, and the production is primarily associated with Canada, with U.S. production and distribution involvement as well.
The Colony Trailer
The trailer introduces a world covered by an apparently endless winter, where the remaining humans have been forced underground. It establishes Colony 7 as one of several isolated communities struggling with limited resources and an uncertain future.
The central trailer setup revolves around the distress signal received from another colony. Sam and Briggs leave their relatively secure underground base and travel through the frozen wilderness to investigate. The footage gradually reveals that the missing settlement contains a much more serious danger than initially expected.
The promotional material also highlights the film's action and horror elements, particularly the encounters with the hostile Ferals and the increasingly difficult choices faced by the survivors.
The Colony Reviews and Reception
The Colony received a mixed critical response following its release. Rotten Tomatoes records a low critic score, with reviewers commonly pointing to familiar genre ideas, conventional dialogue and underdeveloped characters as weaknesses. At the same time, some reviews acknowledged the film's cold, atmospheric setting and the performances of its principal cast.
Audience ratings have been more varied across different platforms. IMDb currently lists the movie at around 5.3/10, based on tens of thousands of user ratings. User scores can change over time and represent individual audience responses rather than a formal critical assessment.
The film also received recognition during its festival and awards run. Its production and technical work earned nominations at Canadian industry awards, including recognition for costume design and makeup, while Jeff Renfroe received a festival award at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival.
The Colony Box Office
The movie had a relatively limited theatrical distribution compared with major studio science-fiction releases. Box-office records list approximately $557,865 in worldwide theatrical grosses.
The international release included markets such as Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and Singapore, while the United States received its release in September 2013. The film subsequently had a broader life through home entertainment and digital distribution.
The Colony OTT and Streaming Details
The Colony has been distributed through digital rental, purchase and streaming services in different territories. Its availability has changed over time because streaming rights differ between countries and platforms.
Some current listings show the film through rental or purchase services, while selected markets have also carried it through subscription or ad-supported platforms. Therefore, the exact OTT availability depends on the viewer's country and the current licensing arrangements.
The movie has also been released on physical formats, including DVD and Blu-ray, following its theatrical run.
The Colony (2013) Movie Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Colony |
| Year | 2013 |
| Genre | Science Fiction, Action, Horror, Thriller |
| Language | English |
| Country | Canada |
| Director | Jeff Renfroe |
| Writers | Jeff Renfroe, Svet Rouskov, Patrick Tarr, Pascal Trottier |
| Producers | Paul Barkin, Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin, Matthew Cervi |
| Lead Cast | Kevin Zegers, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Paxton, Charlotte Sullivan |
| Runtime | Approximately 95 minutes |
| Original Release | 2013 |
| U.S. Release | September 20, 2013 |
| Music | Jeff Danna |
| Cinematography | Pierre Gill |
Final Takeaway
The Colony is a post-apocalyptic science-fiction thriller built around a simple survival question: what happens when the underground shelters protecting humanity are no longer safe? With Kevin Zegers, Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton leading the cast, the film combines an extreme-weather scenario with elements of action and horror.
Directed by Jeff Renfroe, the movie uses Canadian locations and underground facilities to create its isolated future setting. While its critical reception was mixed, The Colony remains a straightforward choice for viewers interested in frozen-world survival stories, underground communities and post-apocalyptic science-fiction thrillers.