Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Jan 24, 2012 20:56:06 GMT -5
Plot:In 1846, a party of settlers became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and had to resort to cannibalism to survive. Some 150 years later, a group of teens on a ski trip discover that the curse of the Donner Party still haunts those mountains when members of their group start turning up not only dead, but half-eaten. Nothing - and no one - is what it seems in this provocative dark thriller. And history doesn't always stay in the past.
Cast:
John Kassir
Eric Pierpoint
Erik Stocklin
Desiree Hall
Colley Bailey
Adelaide Kane
Dominic DeVore
Brandon Morales
My Thoughts:Pretty decently-done indie.
Review:"Donner Pass" is an indie/horror film from filmmaker Elise Robertson. Where a group of friends head up to a ski trip in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The same spot where way back in 1846, a party of settlers resorted to eating the weaker members of the group to survive. Now...the ski trip is put in jeopardy when the possibility of the spirit of the sole survivor of "Donner", might be lurking the land. I am not personally one for cannibalism horror, but this movie was a pretty decent indie horror pic. While the characters weren't very beyond one-dimensional.
Except for one or two, the movie makes sure that it takes its sweet time in unfolding things. It doesn't put too much out in the forefront early on. Instead, it uses up the entire 84 minutes or so. To slowly roll out the story, some twists, and a few other plot caviats. And as for the characters. They aren't really "that" bad? So you can tolerate them for the duration of the movie. Considering if you compare them to much more obnoxious teenagers in other previous, horror films?
In fact, the characters actually grow to be much more interesting, and in some cases likeable as the film moves along. Because early on, the characters are introduced. The main players. And then later on in act 1, we get more characters. Who we were at first, led to believe might be trouble for the previously introduced characters. And then we're immediately set on a path to believe that this will be one of those horror films where the "sheep, let the wolves into their home".
So to speak. But Robertson does a nice job of making a film where not much, is as it first seems on the surface. And that's the glue that holds this movie together. A lot of the characters have motives for a variety of things. But not the motives that you may see on the outside. Some of the "harmless" looking characters, Turn out to be the exact opposite. While the "harmful" looking ones are the same. And then there are others who have far more disturbing "secrets", they're hiding.
And this scenario builds, bubbles, and boils little by little. And gets more intense as horrific events begin to unfold after their first night at the cabin. When one person vanishes mysteriously. Blood is found, and a strange person begins to be seen around the premises. To make matters worse. The snow and temperatures outside aren't friendly to the group. So anyone standing watch outside is not an option. While whoever is stalking and picking them off one by one? Seems to be right at home on the land.
And within its elements. The snowbound atmosphere also adds a nice "The Shining"/"Misery" element to the movie. But it leans more towards the horror side of things due to the amount of blood and visually disturbing moments the movie offers up. There's also a small subplot amongst all the chaos. Which seems to suggest that along with the mysterious person stalking the teens, that a possible "spiritual possession" has overcome the group as well.
And as their numbers begin to dwindle. Paranoia and immense fear begin to set in. Watching the situation deteriorate, especially in act 3, are where the most intense moments of this movie really shine. And where a lot more of the story is revealed. And hile there are a few small things which don't add up, overall...it's still a pretty solid story in the way it's crafted and presented within the context of the film.
For all the gorehounds out there, the answer to the question you're probably asking right now is, "yes". We do get scenes of actual people being eaten. And although they're not super graphic like in some moments of "Land Of The Dead". They work for this intriguing little indie horror flick. "Donner Pass" is a good indie horror/thriller when all is aaid and done. It's got intrigue, character drama, blood, gore, a modestly strong story, and an appearance by genre veteran John Kassir. If you can spot him that is! Fans of the genre should definitely give this one a rental!
Positives:Decent performances by almost all of the cast. A solid story, with some clever twists. That aren't all bunched together, but spread out nicely across the full 84-66 minutes of the movie. Mostly believable character drama, and an auspicious, but still solid ending.
Negatives:Some plot gaps late in the movie, one or two. Maybe needed a little bit of filling in.
Overall:Three stars out of four.