The Ice Harvest is a crime-comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and released in 2005. It stars John Cusack as Charlie Arglist, a shady lawyer who teams up with his strip club owner friend, Vic Cavanaugh (Billy Bob Thornton), to embezzle $2 million from a local mob boss, Bill Guerrard (Randy Quaid), on Christmas Eve.
As the two partners execute their plan, they encounter several obstacles and complications, including a drunken friend, a nosy bartender, and an unreliable getaway car. Meanwhile, they also have to deal with their own personal demons and disagreements, as Charlie struggles with guilt over betraying his boss and Vic reveals his true intentions for the stolen money.
Throughout the night, the tension and paranoia build up as the characters engage in a series of betrayals, confrontations, and violent encounters. The setting of the icy and deserted Wichita, Kansas, adds to the film's dark and surreal atmosphere, while the witty and snappy dialogue provides plenty of dark humor and irony.
The Ice Harvest received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office disappointment, but it has gained a cult following over the years for its unconventional take on the holiday season and its memorable performances from Cusack, Thornton, and Connie Nielsen, who plays a femme fatale named Renata. The film also features a soundtrack of classic Christmas songs reinterpreted by contemporary artists like Tom Waits and Otis Redding.