Review of The Donner Party (2009) by Dan K — 27 Mar 2011

Being a fan of survival movies I think I may have set the bar a little too high before viewing this. {Negatives first, Positives second}.

The movie starts off on the wrong foot by starting in the middle of the story. At the start, the first group that went to get help is returning-or at least the two that made it and the Indian that comes to help. Though this is not made clear until they have been in the movie for a while. Would have done well to explain that to the audience. The group has already been stranded a month when the movie begins...and there are NO flashbacks to fill in the gaps. There is a lot of back story between characters and trouble amongst the members that plays out but the audience has not received the back story. You are left to guess what led to this point. A few spots were very difficult to understand the dialogue as well, I found myself rewinding and cranking the volume in an attempt to catch a piece of dialogue, often still not getting it. A number of shots last too long, or seem awkward. The very end turns into what can only be described as some sort of negative freeze frame that doesn't make sense and is VERY obnoxious. It is probably decent if you do not have any expectations, but I did.

On the positive end- the scenery is beautiful, the actors know their parts and do very well. Makeup crew-WOW- you really see a number of the characters change as they slowly starve. The blood wasn't so hot but there isn't much of that (I know odd huh?). It was a decent Indie flick.

P.S.- On second viewing, the movie is better-knowing what I know NOW. Watch the first time with no expectations and then try it again. It is much better on a second viewing..and I don't admit to changing my mind on things like this-EVER so this was a new experience for me.