I've been having the same problem in the beginning. One time, after I loaded after I died I went to the starting town/village and barrack/tavern doors were replaced with stone walls and there wasn't doors on the houses, it was just black and I couldn't go in. Just now I died and when I went to load the game I first let the save picture load first and then loaded it. No freeze. Could be luck or something else. Tell me if it works.
