Dead of Winter: The Donner Party

Dead of Winter: The Donner Party

How far would you go to keep your family safe?

NR 2015 · 84 min · Documentary, History, Horror

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.

Directed by Doug Glover · Written by Raymond Bridgers

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Cast

Powers Boothe Narrator
Darby Hinton George Donner
Kim Lankford Tamsen Donner
Darrin Miller James Reed
Libby Baker Margaret Reed
Danielle Shumard Virginia Reed
David White William Eddy
Kit Leonard Dennis Patrick Breen
Bear Fuerst Lewis Keseberg
Greg Webb William Foster
Alex Barry Patrick Dolan
Romi Williams Patty Reed

Make it a double feature

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