I had never heard of this movie before, but when I saw it in redbox with the screen notables Danny Glover and Bruce Greenwood, I decided to give it a try.I wasn't expecting it to be a great film, which it wasn't, but I found it rather intriguing as it kept my interest throughout.
Set in 1994, Danny Glover stars as Donovan Matheson, who's returning to his family home after a 30 year absence, Thirty years ago, he had lost his wife and young daughter in a tragic auto accident, when an underage driver, who had stolen a truck, crossed the median and instantly killed his family. Donovan is still racked with guilt, as instead of joining them that day on an outing to celebrate his birthday, he chose to stay home and work on his low energy (cold fusion) theory. Having worked on the Manhattan Project (A-Bomb),at Los Alamos during WW2, the cold fusion theory was his way of trying to make amends to the world he thought.
Bruce Greenwood co-stars as Sargeant Finnley Boyd, the local police officer and, I believe, Donovan's brother-in-law (although this is not made totally clear in the film). He has kept Donovan's home rented at times and maintained it while he was gone.
When an 11 year-old girl named Maggie (the same name as Donovan's daughter),ably portrayed by Natasha Calis, comes to his home asking if he wants any help with the lawn, Donovan senses a connection to the girl, and even tells Finn that he believes he's there to somehow save her.
Donovan finds an old journal from 30 years before where he made entries about predictions and premonitions that he had at the time that never happened. However, he slowly begins to realize, since he's always had trouble interposing 6's and 9's that these premonitions may in fact be coming true now. When he tries to alert Finn to this, Finn thinks he's becoming more and more mentally unbalanced, with not resolving his grief issues over the loss of his family. However, when he sees for himself what's happening, he has to re-assess this.
OK, so when we actually get the payoff here, it's rather ridiculous and far-fetched, in my opinion, but, as noted, there was enough intrigue throughout that I was quite interested in how the pieces of the puzzle would all come together. I wasn't expecting much, and felt overall it certainly was worth the $1.27 I paid to see it.
Donovan's Echo
2011
Action / Drama / Fantasy / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Donovan's Echo
2011
Action / Drama / Fantasy / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Plot summary
In late 1994, former physicist Donovan Matheson returns to his hometown to live in the house he abandoned almost thirty years ago following the deaths of his wife and then eleven year old daughter, Jasmine Matheson and Magnolia Matheson respectively, in a car accident caused by Christopher Bailey, an underage driver who stole a car for a joyride. Donovan, who focused his work on cold fusion, believes he is at fault for their deaths as he believes he could have saved them if not for other things in his life, including his excessive drinking which has only worsened in his grief. The house had been kept up by Donovan's friend, police sergeant Finnley Boyd, who Donovan had only sporadically kept in touch with in the intervening years. Although not clear why he moved back, Donovan comes to believe, in a sense of déjà vu, that the purpose of his return ultimately is to save an eleven year old girl he meets, Maggie Walgrave, in his constant encounters with her, her bookstore owner mother Sarah Walgrave, and Sarah's mechanic brother Kit, an alcoholic who too has just recently returned to town. That family too had just suffered a loss when Sarah's husband/Maggie's father, Jason Walgrave, the owner of the garage where Kit works, was killed in chasing someone - that person unknown and not apprehended - who broke into the garage. As Donovan begins further to believe that his purpose is tied to premonitions he had exactly thirty years ago to the second but at the time did not understand what those visions meant, he begins to alienate Finn as well as Sarah, the former who believes Donovan is solely trying to justify the painful things that have happened in his life. But as Donovan tries to place all the pieces of the puzzle together, he believes it is all meant to come to a head exactly thirty years following Jasmine and Magnolia's deaths.
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Fairly Intriguing Indie
THE ETERNAL RETURN
Donovan (Danny Glover) is a slightly dyslexic nuclear physicist who has returned home after 30 years. He has dealt with a 30 year tragedy. Oh not the severe gut wrenching type of tragedy like being a Browns fan, but that of a personal loss of loved ones.
His return is clouded with mystery. Sgt. Finnley (Bruce Greenwood) leads a warm reception that soon turns strange as Donovan is consumed by 30 year old premonitions which he kept in a journal. He tries to sort things out, but unfortunately his interpretations lacks a bit of accuracy which leads to initial skepticism.
His premonitions center around an 11 year old girl (Natasha Calis) which causes alarm for Mom.
The film proceeds as a slow mystery being unraveled. It has many parts which make you think you are watching a "Lifetime" film. There is little action in the film and what action that does happen, is off screen. The film is about the reoccurring cycle of life. A likeable film for those who are into that sort of thing and were banging your head against the wall watching "Cloud Atlas."
Parental guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. One BS.
Complex Premise Hampered by Low Budget and Contrived Coincidences
A Movie About Clairvoyance and One's Ability or Inability to Make Sense of it All and Connect the Dots for Some Kind of Understanding and Closure to Things that have Happened or Might Happen is the Complicated Plot of this Small Film from Canada.
It is Difficult to Process (things that go on in the mind and in dreams or precognition) and making it Intriguing and Mysterious to an Audience is not the Easiest Way to Make a Thriller. But when it is done Well it can Make for a Unique and Unusual Movie that is Welcomed in the Paranormal and Sci-Fi Genre.
The Premise can be Creepy and as the Viewer is Most Likely at Some Point in Their Lives through Dreams of Deja Vu can Latch On to it with an Uneasy Feeling Taken from the Uneasy Feeling that such Real Life Experiences can Bring On.
This isn't a Fully Rendered Film about Danny Glover's Frustrating Predicament and there are Coincidences a Plenty and a bit too many Contrivances to Accept, but the Movie does Manage to Draw You into its World of Wondering What's Up just Enough to Pass as a Low-Key, Well Acted, but Ultimately Boxed In Entertainment and So Restrained by its Budget and Running Time that it Seems Rushed, Confusing, and Shackled.
Overall, it is Definitely Worth a Watch for some Good Performances and an Interesting Story, but Fully Involved Fans of this Type of Thing will Most Likely End Up Wanting More than this can Deliver.