Film · Documentary, Horror, History
Dead of Winter: The Donner Party (2015)
How far would you go to keep your family safe?
What starts out as a voyage to the West in pursuit of the American Dream quickly turns deadly for the Donner party after a series of bad decisions and severe weather. Trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this group of nearly 80 settlers fell prey to sub-zero temperatures, torrential rainfalls, extreme heat, and ten-foot snow drifts. Punishing storms trapped the party with nearly no food or shelter for 5 months in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many died, some succumbed to cannibalism to survive, and others delved deeply into their faith while waiting to be rescued. “The Donner Party” explores this exciting journey through a hybrid of first-person narration, remarkable reenactments, expert interviews, CGI, and archival materials.
- Director
- Doug Glover
- Writers
- Raymond Bridgers
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Release date
- November 27, 2015
Cast
Powers BootheNarrator
Darby HintonGeorge Donner
Kim LankfordTamsen Donner
Darrin MillerJames Reed
Libby BakerMargaret Reed- Danielle ShumardVirginia Reed
David WhiteWilliam Eddy
Kit Leonard DennisPatrick Breen
Bear FuerstLewis Keseberg
Greg WebbWilliam Foster- Alex BarryPatrick Dolan
- Romi WilliamsPatty Reed
- Ryan ColeCharles Stanton
- Luis JuarezLuis
- Sean KervinSalvador
- Calen John NealJohn Snyder
Elizabeth AustinCommentator (Atmospheric Physicist)- Gabrielle BurtonCommentator (Author)
Ethan RarickCommentator (Author)
Frank X. MullenCommentator (Author)
