It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Director T.J. Martin does history justice as he puts this capable cast through their paces. Here, Crispin Glover's innate squirmy quirkiness is concealed and re-purposed as duplicity, guile, and scheming. With limited backdrop and no Hollywood trickery, Martin sets out to tell an uncomfortable tale of impossible choices, selfish agendas, and moral gray areas.The result is a stark and unforgiving portrayal of the depth of the breakdown of social norms in a desperate wilderness survival situation. No gimmicks. No stunts. No eye-popping effects. Just the refreshing gift of good actors bringing characters to life and a director telling a well- written and conceived story.

If you are some Fangoria-reading horror flick freak, no doubt you will rate this movie "1" or "2" on IMDb. Which is your own fault, because doing your homework in advance would have shown you this is NOT some brainless zombie smorgasbord offering such as DAWN OF THE DEAD, where the featured creatures literally rip out yards of intestines while gnawing on one bloody end (since apparently they have no sense of smell).Instead, DONNER PARTY is presented more like a docudrama, with beautifully believable scenery and realistic sound effects (in fact, for insomniacs, this film might be as effectively sleep-inducing as those DVD's of logs burning in a fireplace). Its authenticity undoubtedly is enhanced by the movie being filmed in the actual Donner Pass near Truckee, CA, where these gruesome events took place during the winter of 1846-47.That's right, DONNER PARTY is based on reality, unlike Hannibal Lecter forking out Ray Liotta's living brain at a nicely-set dinner table. Just as MOBY DICK incorporates a documented case of cannibalism (and sacrificing the sailor who draws the short straw for the sustenance of his shipmates), DONNER PARTY also reflects the willingness of most Americans to throw whoever they have to (e.g., Wisconsin school teachers) under the wheels of the bus to enhance their own survival.To sum up, if you want the latest riff on THE TEXA$ CHAINSAW MASSACRE, do NOT rent DONNER PARTY. If, on the other hand, you wish to better understand the thinking of a Republican governor such as New Jersey's Chris Christie, there might not be a better model in film history than DONNER PARTY's leading proponent of expediency, expedition leader William Foster, played with just the right mixture of smug self-serving righteousness and smarmy disingenuous reptilian trickery by actor Crispin Glover.

I have been looking around a bit to see what people generally thought about this movie, and I have noticed several complaints about its historical inaccuracy. I was however under the impression that, as the genres indicated on the IMDb page (drama and western) seem to suggest, this was never intended to be a documentary. That implies a certain freedom to depart for the actual facts, doesn't it ?Other reviewers have already praised the bleak, low-saturation images, the extremely appropriate music (used with the greatest effect for the execution scene, which is absolutely gripping) and the beautiful and desolate locations (endless snow and ominous skeleton-like branches silhouetted against somber grey skies). I'll add to this the great job done by the make-up people on this film (truthfully, at one point, I thought it was starting to look a bit like a period Night of the Living Dead around the campfire. Dying characters that actually look the part... That doesn't happen as often as one would believe...).About the plot and the complaint that not much happens... I am going to be grossly pragmatic here, but starving people don't really have the energy to do much, do they ? They 'plod' along the lines of a film that works as a mood piece (dreary. avoid if you're easily depressed) and psychological drama - yes. another one of those, complete with hints of reflection on what humanity is and how desperate times can strip it away from man. a bit heavy-handed at times, but thankfully not a stark manichean treatment of the theme. For instance, generally whiny and annoying Foster - Glover's character. watch for that scene where he makes his long, choked up speech when the party sets out. and the "I am a Christian" bit. makes you want to throttle him, doesn't it ? - has a couple of touching moments, as when he endeavours to cheer up his (personality-deprived) wife.On the subject of acting: here is another impressive Glover performance. Without the ever-enjoyable hysterics to be found in his more eccentric roles (cf Willard or Simon Says), the more subtle nuances are given centre-stage, establishing an interesting character difficult to pigeonhole. In the party under Foster's command, the widow with the haunted eyes (Santopietro) is especially heart-wrenching while W. Eddy (Crawford) is also suitably ambiguous in his steely determination.On a completely random tangent, if I may make a remark in rather poor taste, but which I can't resist: I don't know whether people do taste like chicken as it has been suggested in more humorous takes on the matter, but in this film, one has to admit that the cooked result does look a lot like it ...and by the way, what did they mean by "adding into the pot" ? A FAQ on the subject would be appreciated if someone understands that part...

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