Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

TeenzTen An action-packed slog

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Michael_Elliott Donner Party, The (2009) ** (out of 4) Disappointing telling of the now infamous Donner Party, a group of people traveling from Missouri to California but along their journey they decide to try a short-cut but this leads them into the Sierra Mountains where they become trapped by the snow. Our film starts off with them running out of food so a group of people try to walk away from the camp in hopes of finding safety but soon their chances of survival become even slimmer so they must resort to cannibalism. THE DONNER PARTY is a low-budget film that sadly never really gets anything right. This movie is far from being horrible but there's no denying that it's a major disappointment as the screenplay and direction just aren't what's needed for the material. The problem with the story itself is that there's never any real connection to any of the characters. There's no denying that what they're going through is quite depressing but this is only true because we know the real story. The "story" being told on the screen just never really grabs your attention and it certainly never pulls you into any sort of drama. There's not a single character in the film that you really care for and I can't believe the screenplay wouldn't develop them any more. Another problem with the story is that it's just not all that interesting. I think a better story would have been about the actual case involving them setting out, taking the wrong trail and then the winter stuff. Instead, we're given a story of a small party who set out to find help. Again, the screenplay just doesn't make it entertaining. I'd also say that the direction is at fault because there's not a bit of atmosphere throughout the film. This was another disappointment because there's not a single scene where you get to feel as if you're there with the people and that dramatic danger of what the characters are going through is something that never connects with the viewer. Clayne Crawford steals the film in his lead role and Crispin Glover is also pretty good in a very restrained performance. However, at the end of the day the performances aren't enough to make this movie. If you want to know about the Donner Party it's best to check out a book or some other documentary.

cabcomp This story has fascinated historians for years. It would seem like a movie makers dream. It has it all intrigue, adventure, jealousy, etc, so where did they go wrong. Sure seems like accuracy is a big issue. The one thing I can say is I am glad they didn't Disneyfy it. Disney attempted to do the story as well focusing on the families that did not engage in cannibalism. It was pathetic, but enough about that bad movie. This version was disappointing as well. When the movie began it seemed as though it started a half hour before. The 2 main characters were well into a strained relationship, no explanation. You have no idea how long they have been traveling, how long without food, what happened to the entire party (there were 89 immigrants), and so many other unanswered questions. At the end I felt as if I left the movie before it ended. The movie moved pretty slow and then it was over, the end. This just wasn't good story telling.

douglas lally To call this film "The Donner Party" is misleading. The events portrayed are mostly fictional, loosely based on the actual tragedy, and do a great disservice to the historical truth behind what really happened. The scope of the film encompasses only a handful of the party who attempt to cross the Sierra Nevadas to California in hopes of bringing back a rescue team for the remaining survivors, which is based on an actual attempt. But there is little coverage of the events leading to their predicament in the mountains, only passing references and incomplete pieces of information. Although the direction does nicely capture the brutality of their circumstance it also portrays people numbingly boring and cartoonish. The dialogue is dull and awkwardly delivered with a multitude of intense, soap opera close ups. Long stretches of yawning wide shots and wordless scenes of boots plodding inch by inch through thick snow. But my real problem is the focus on cannibalism. Once the food runs out they decide someone needs to die so the others may live. Aside from the glaring historical inaccuracy, the film seemed to become about cannibalism. It's known that the Donner Party did eventually resort to cannibalism, but not to the extent outlined in this film. It was more like a cheap and overused plot tool to gross out the audience, albeit not graphically. But the lifeboat mentality over who was next became practically comical. The only bright spot in this was Crispin Glover as the transparently weak minded, pious, self preservationist. His character was the only one I found believable as a figure from the Donner Party. The remaining cast were two dimensional pretty people slathered in fake dirt and period costumes. I don't recommend this film but I particularly advise anyone who may be looking for anything to do with the real Donner Party to prepare for disappointment. YouTube has plenty of documentaries. This is fiction.

samkan The filming (colors..septia?), background music and sparse, terse script do a great job of setting up spooky suspense. Within minutes the viewer is drawn into this desperate setting! The characters are not overdrawn with background but are set up very well. Indeed, the movie doesn't try to explain the plight, story, etc., of the infamous Donner party but instead is a largely fictionalized account of its infamous group which set out to seek help, long referred to as "The Forlorn Hope".Given the above correction (changing the point of view) the film then takes some missteps, primarily in its depiction of the ultimate vice practiced by the "The Forlorn Hope", which was much too compromised here. Also, the major conflict between the two male leads becomes too black and white; e.g., Glover's character becomes too much of a bogeyman and the protagonist too virtuous. In contrast, TFH's women are under drawn in the second half of the flick.With some work this film could have been a great thriller.