The Donner Party (2009)

How sad is this?

A Disappointing Continuation

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

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.

This is based on the true story of pioneers, who leave on a trip to the land of orange groves, milk and honey...the Promised Land. The party makes a split with a promise of a shorter trek through the Sierra Nevada Mountains leading to California. Following several snow storms they find themselves trapped, freezing with a dwindling supply of food. The group splits again as a small contingent try to forge ahead to California and form a rescue party. Even that is doomed. The fateful group of pioneer's camaraderie turns to cannibalism in the name of survival.The movie is pretty gloomy as expected to be. Harsh and harrowing, depressing at the very least; but THE DONNOR PARTY is worth watching. Some impressive acting in the form of Clayne Crawford and Crispin Glover. Also in support are: Mark Boone Junior, Christian Kane, Michelle Santopietro, Jamie Anne Allman and Catherine Black.

A few years ago Ken Burns made a superb documentary film about the Donner experience attempting to get to California. They were part of a rather large group traveling west but at a critical juncture they chose to attempt a more southerly route, one a promoter promised would be a faster route. As it turned out the promoter had never traveled the route and it in fact turned out to be a longer, more difficult route. Add to that an early and severe winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Donner party and several other parties traveling with them were stranded, without enough food to survive the winter, even after their livestock were killed off and eaten.In preparation for this fictional movie, I viewed that earlier Ken Burns film, which is an excellent historical account, which included still photos and some writings of the original parties.This movie does not cover any of the early parts of the journey, nor does it cover any parts of the aftermath of the rescue of the survivors. It focuses on the brutal winter and how the men and women resorted to cannibalism to survive.In line with the bleak subject, and the winter surroundings, the film is color but printed with a very low color saturation, which makes it look like a black and white film with a bit of color. That part works well. However most of the movie is very slow and difficult to endure, and part of that is because of the uninteresting dialog. We get the point that it was difficult for the survivors to force themselves to eat human flesh, and particularly humans they knew. So why did the audience need to watch that on several different occasions? While the movie has some interesting elements, I found it to be mostly a waste of time. For anyone wanting to know more about the Donner tragedy, the Ken Burns films does that many times better than this movie does. Plus, in this movie we never see any of the Donners, only a short reference to them, encamped a short distance away.I like Crispin Glover, especially for his early role in "Back to the Future", but here as William Foster I found him mostly annoying. However overall all the actors did well, but the script and direction were not particularly interesting. It was a chore watching the whole 85 minutes.

Crispin Glover leads the ill fated Donner Party in this entertaining fictional, though based on fact, movie. The audience is immediately aware of the party's desperate situation, stranded and starving in the snow covered Sierra Nevada Mountains. The film, though relentlessly downbeat, does try to realistically portray how individuals might have reacted to the extreme conditions they were subjected to. Cannibalism is portrayed in a dignified manner, not sensationalized, and there is actually very little blood. The haunting soundtrack seems very appropriate, and the Donner Pass locations beautifully, though bleakly, photographed. Recommended, and especially recommended if you want to see Crispin Glover in a restrained and believable performance. - MERK