The Trail (2013) Reviews

• Lighten Up

  susanquesan2014-09-30

  I've read all the reviews pointing to the obvious problems with zippers, sweating, costumes, etc.... and I noticed that too but I think it is short-sighted not to point out the things that worked in this movie. This was the director's first film on a very, very small budget and I think he accomplished some very effective scenes. The attack scene was pure genius because it creates terror with no extra expense using a bunch of actors, etc.. The viewer experiences it completely from the woman's point of view. The lead actress is excellent and well directed! I also thought the camera movement around the woman in the woods was excellent and created genuine suspense. Making films is extremely difficult and to just pick away at all the details of sweating, zippers and undergarments, and the fact she never wears a coat is all legit but stops short of the redeeming qualities of this film. In the Coen brothers' re-make of "True Grit" the girl is completely dry after riding her horse across a river! And that's the very well-financed, acclaimed Coen brothers! This film maker has genuine potential and should be encouraged to make more films.

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• Heart warming story, good family movie

  saxmennis2014-10-16

  If you're going to make a list of every historical inaccuracy every time you watch a film, be prepared for some serious hand pain. Relax and enjoy the story. I thought this was a refreshing take on the westward migration and the difficulties that accompanied. The lead actress does a wonderful job, and it's nice to see a strong female character face real adversity. This story isn't told through CGI or through the jaw-dropping special effects to which we've all become so accustomed. It asks the viewer to focus, become drawn in, and join her on her journey through physical trials, and questioning beliefs. I will not go on to spoil any plot points, but we thought this was a wonderful family movie with genuine emotion and a nice message. I highly recommend this movie.

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• The Ultimate Survival Story

  subscout-134-1645592014-10-16

  Being lost in the woods is no fun. Being lost in the woods in the winter with just the clothes on your back is pure torture. Today, we're surrounded by survival experts and survivor-themed shows just about every night of the week and none of them truly capture what it would be like to be alone in the woods with no discernible hope for rescue. "The Trail" is the story of a seriously dire circumstance where the odds of survival for one woman are worse than the Raiders winning the Super Bowl this season. It is somewhat organic as a low-budget film but makes up for it with high-quality acting from its lone star. It's a rare thing in Hollywood to have a movie where you essentially have one actor or actress carry the entire feature. You'll notice right away that nary a word is spoken in "The Trail" in the first 20 minutes and that's where it grabs your attention. Jasmin Jandreau does an outstanding job as Amelia, a widow who has just lost her husband as they travel the always brutal Oregon Trail. "The Trail" is an interesting look at a terrible individual struggle and an excellent showcase for Jandreau, who clearly has a bright future.

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• Lots of reasons this movie was a waste of my time.

  fredjmuggs2018-03-27

  Young housewife in the mid-1800's heads west with her husband who decides to leave the safety of their wagon train to strike out cross country alone. Wow is THAT dumb. Even dumber, he gets himself killed. He wasn't the only dummy - the Indians who killed him don't bother to look for any valuables in the wagon (where the wife is hiding under a blanket) - This story so out of touch with the times. Then the young wife is completely lost doing the simplest things that anyone in the nineteenth century would have had no trouble with - like using a flint and steel to start a cooking fire. I couldn't watch any more of this nonsense and deleted it from my Kindle.

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• Lighten up indeed

  memboy72015-02-02

  I really liked the pace and length of the movie. It wasn't too long - It didn't drag on and it wasn't so short that it left the main character underdeveloped. The ending was satisfying. Although I admit I found it odd at first that Amelia and the boy were able to sleep all night and wake up covered in snow, I think a lot of the negative reviewers have failed to see the religious/supernatural theme of the movie. It wasn't a documentary or some kind of trendy wilderness reality show. It was about faith and how a woman's spirituality helped her survive. Did you perhaps miss the ending (before the bible verse at the very end) when it was implied that the Indian boy had been an angelic being?

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