The trailer for the upcoming The Snowman is absolutely chilling for more than just it’s snow-obsessed serial killer. While any crime-thriller with a creatively gruesome serial killer can be terrifying, the trailer does something that we don’t see too often.

There’s seems to be a concerted effort to restrict the visuals to a very limited color palette, and what’s more to show as little daylight as possible. Bright colors are used sparingly, and the few daytime shots in the two-and-a-half minute trailer seem terribly overcast and dreary. The white of the surrounding winter is blinding in a distinctly bleak way (think post-holiday winter, where there’s nothing to do but freeze), and most exterior shots seem sharply focused on the foreground with a stark contrast to the snow.

Add in the nighttime shots of nefarious snow-based beheadings and it conveys the feeling of being helpless and isolated. Fingers crossed that the entire film is shot this way.

The Snowman is based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Jo Nesbø and stars Michael Fassbender as Det. Harry Hole, who sets out to find a missing woman after her scarf is found draped around a snowman. Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, J.K. Simmons, and Chloë Sevigny also star.

What do you think of the trailer for The Snowman? Let’s discuss in the comments below!