The wintry ambiance is great, but the story is meh

I can't believe this was actually released to some theaters in 1988 because, aside from the tame nudity, it feels like a TV movie, and not a good one, which isn't to say it doesn't have some positive qualities.

The melodrama involves a musician (Lee Montgomery) who drifts into a town in the Winter and takes a job by a guy (Art Hindle) who, apparently, abuses his alcoholic wife (Susan Anspach). The guitarist & his dog stay at the small rental house adjacent to their huge home, Wolf Lodge, which looks like it was really something back in the day. The wife makes the moves on the rock stud, but he's more interested in a local waitress.

It was originally called "The Legend of Wolf Lodge," but redubbed "Into the fire" for the DVD release.

Someone criticized it on the grounds that the only likable character is the dog, and this is pretty accurate. Montgomery, in his final film, is likable, but his character is so stupid he loses the viewer's sympathy. For instance, the husband proves himself to be a masculinity-on-overdrive psycho and yet the rocker willingly makes out with his wife when the man's barely around the corner. It's so stupid it's unbelievable. However, you tend to overlook it because Montgomery is such a quality protagonist. Speaking of unbelievable, the final act spirals out of control on this front.

Olivia d'Abo was in her prime here and there's some tame top nudity of her and Anspach, but the latter's character is so scary it's impossible to regard her as sexy.

What makes this B movie worth maybe catching is the effective Winter ambiance, shot in Kirkfield, Ontario, in the middle of Winter. The blaring 80's score often detracts, but it has some interesting elements as well.

Although I appreciated these factors, my wife gave me a look when the credits rolled that said: "You made me sit through that?"