Netflix fans are raving about the 'gripping and terrifying' Oscar-nominated film that left viewers in tears

Netflix fans have gone crazy after JA Bayona's Oscar-nominated film Society Of The Snow was released on the streaming service on January 4.

The film tells the harrowing story of a 1972 plane crash in the Andes Mountains, in which survivors had to resort to cannibalism as they tried to stay alive.

In October 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 took off from Montevideo, Uruguay, en route to Santiago, Chile, and crashed into a mountain, severing both wings and tail before sliding off a glacier and landing in the snow.

The harrowing story was recorded at the actual crash site, 3,000 meters above sea level.

And fans are excited about the film adaptation of the true story as they took to Twitter to share their reviews of the film.

One wrote: 'YES Bayona's latest film, Society Of The Snow, deserves to be among the best good films of the year.'

A second wrote: 'Watching the society of snow on Netflix. been waiting for it to be released. so far.. the sfx/practical effects are really good. as insane'.

Another added: 'Two movie reviews I've seen recently: Boys in the Boat and Society of the Snow. Both are based on true events. BitB literally had me on the edge of my seat during the last race.

'And the SotS was so intense but with great performances. Snow will be on Netflix in a few days!'

Another commented: 'Intense, gripping and often terrifying, SOCIETY OF THE SNOW is an incredible story about survival, determination and the human spirit.

'It will get more attention when it appears on Netflix, but it's worth seeing the production on the big screen. Brutal, but life-affirming stuff.'

While another simply wrote: 'society of snow made me cry' and another added: 'amazing story'.

Another explained it as 'a feat of willpower, teamwork, faith and a complete understanding of the elements. Heartbreaking and yet fascinating'.

Critics were also enthusiastic about the film, praising its portrayal of true tragedy.

The Digital spy wrote: 'Society of the Snow becomes as much a humanistic experience as a traditional survival film, straddling the line between brutal visual realism, restrained sentimentality and devastating existentialism.'

The Wall Street Journal added: 'For all the sensational nature of what was a very real ordeal, any accounting of it requires respect, for the dead as well as the living. Mr. Bayona more than meets that standard.”

The Sunday times said: 'The power of Bayona's film, as the title suggests, is the acts of kindness, sacrifice and love that bind the emaciated, disheveled survivors together.'

While The times added, “The film's strength lies in its moral poise and technical virtuosity (the crash is truly terrifying).”

Initially, 33 passengers survived the crash, but had to resort to eating loved ones to stay alive while waiting for rescue.

Two passengers, Robert Canessa (Matías Recalt) and his friend Nando Parrado (Agustín Pardella), hiked the mountain for days to get help.

The two have detailed the ordeal several times, including ahead of the new Netflix film. They recalled the moment when they decided to leave the place in search of rescue.

“We may be walking to our death, but I'd rather walk to my death than wait for it to come to me,” Nando said to Robert at the summit.

'You and I are friends, Nando. We've been through so much. Now let's die together,” Canessa replied.

On top of the bitterly cold conditions with makeshift gear to keep them warm. When they found help and rescuers reached the crash site, only 16 passengers were left alive.

In his book 'I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired My Calling to Save Lives', Robert describes the ominous decision he had to make at the age of 19 to resort to cannibalism.

He said he and other survivors would cut the flesh from the dead bodies “under much torment and soul-searching” as their hopes of rescue drastically diminished.