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Donovan's Echo

  • 2011
  • PG-13
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Donovan's Echo (2011)
After a long absence, Donovan Matheson (Danny Glover) returns home to discover events from his past are repeating. Plagued by the idea of déjà vu, Donovan is convinced his young neighbour and her mother will be killed on the 30th anniversary of his own wife and daughter's death. Struggling to unlock the pattern, Donovan tries to convince his brother-in-law, Finnley (Bruce Greenwood) to help prevent a similar tragedy. When his facts don't add up, Donovan's sanity is questioned. 

Is he losing his mind, or running out of time?
Play trailer1:28
1 Video
9 Photos
TragedyDramaFantasyMysterySci-FiThriller

A series of uncanny déjà vu events force a man to re-examine his tragic past, memory, instinct, and future.A series of uncanny déjà vu events force a man to re-examine his tragic past, memory, instinct, and future.A series of uncanny déjà vu events force a man to re-examine his tragic past, memory, instinct, and future.

  • Director
    • Jim Cliffe
  • Writers
    • Jim Cliffe
    • Melodie Krieger
    • Blake Corbet
  • Stars
    • Danny Glover
    • Kyarra Willis
    • Karen Holness
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jim Cliffe
    • Writers
      • Jim Cliffe
      • Melodie Krieger
      • Blake Corbet
    • Stars
      • Danny Glover
      • Kyarra Willis
      • Karen Holness
    • 22User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Donovan's Echo
    Trailer 1:28
    Donovan's Echo

    Photos8

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    Top cast29

    Edit
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • Donovan Matheson
    Kyarra Willis
    • Magnolia Matheson
    Karen Holness
    Karen Holness
    • Jasmine Matheson
    Bruce Greenwood
    Bruce Greenwood
    • Finnley Boyd
    Kevin McNulty
    Kevin McNulty
    • Dean Belton
    Natasha Calis
    Natasha Calis
    • Maggie Walgrave
    Lanette Ware
    Lanette Ware
    • Susan Boyd
    Hiro Kanagawa
    Hiro Kanagawa
    • Kaisha
    Katina Small
    • Maggie Walgrave - 35 years
    Stephen Jefferys
    • Speaker
    • (as Stephen Jeffreys)
    Chelah Horsdal
    Chelah Horsdal
    • Doctor
    David James Lewis
    David James Lewis
    • Kit
    • (as David Lewis)
    Sonja Bennett
    Sonja Bennett
    • Sarah Walgrave
    Sunita Prasad
    Sunita Prasad
    • Medical Assistant
    Ian Tracey
    Ian Tracey
    • Ray
    Trent Carlson
    • Unshaven Man
    Amitai Marmorstein
    Amitai Marmorstein
    • Bobby
    Brendan Beiser
    Brendan Beiser
    • Robin
    • Director
      • Jim Cliffe
    • Writers
      • Jim Cliffe
      • Melodie Krieger
      • Blake Corbet
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.22.1K
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    Featured reviews

    4bob-rutzel-1

    Somewhat Disjointed

    Donovan (Danny Glover) returns to his home after 30-years of roaming (which was never really explained) due to the deaths of his wife and child in a vehicle accident. He was a nuclear physicist and blames himself for paying more attention to his work rather than his family. He was also a member of the Manhattan Project back in the day and later became obsessed with Cold Fusion. Now that he is back he has visions of the future that correspond to the date he lost his family.

    Remember the saying or slogan "we are all connected" from other movies: CRASH and CLOUD ATLAS? Apparently the message didn't get through as we have this movie to drill it into us again.

    Donovan sees visions of what will happen in the future and Finn (Bruce Greenwood) the local Canadian policeman and Donovan's best friend doesn't believe him; and Finn thinks Donovan is becoming dangerous. Donovan believes there is a reason he came back - at this time - and he sees things and attaches the visions to the date of the death of his wife and child. We decide Donovan is not mental (hey, that would be another story) but he cannot seem to get thru to Finn, Maggie (the 11-year old who has the same name of his daughter who died in that accident), or to Maggie's mother Sarah (Sonja Bennett). We have dialogues in our heads that would help but our dialogues are never used. Bummer.

    We try to connect the dots with Donovan. However, the way these dots are presented make it difficult to follow any logic and it is here the script confuses us. Sad to say much of this story is disjointed and we are on the verge of looking for the remote to end this because we find ourselves no longer caring.

    I don't believe the connection message got thru this time. In the other movies mentioned above the connections are universal; but here the connections seemed to be relegated to Donovan and the immediate cast only. The drilling was not successful in my opinion. (4/10)

    Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: No.
    6magicbymiketurner

    Glover Is Excellent

    I just ran across this movie last night and decided to give it a look mainly because Danny Glover is in it. Very interesting movie to say the least. Definitely worth the watch if you haven't seen it.
    8mndfirestone

    Worth watching...maybe more than once!

    Although this movie is a little slow moving toward the beginning, the plot is pretty deep so moving too fast would mean you would miss more of the important bits like the other reviewer did, causing him to use the word "disjointed". This movie is not at all disjointed! It has so many well placed, easily missed "bits/clues" that if you blink you just may miss something...If you don't "get it", you were not paying attention! The pieces connect from the beginning right through to the end. There are some flashback scenes throughout the movie to fill in the blanks which, like I said, if you are not giving this movie your full attention you might lose your place! All in all a good watch...It is the type of movie that makes you think (in a good way)! NOT the dopey mush brain time waster that fills so much of the screens today!
    7HotToastyRag

    Great if you like 'fate' movies

    Those who have a keen interest in fate and karma will love the movie Donovan's Echo. Danny Glover stars as a man grieving for his wife and daughter's death. While he wallowed in alcohol for a time, he tries to get his act together with the support of his goof friend, policeman Bruce Greenwood (co-producer of the movie, too!). Then, he starts getting these psychic flashes about the future and the past. What do they mean? Is tragedy about to strike again, and can he stop it?

    One tiny detail I found sad and realistic in this movie was the scene when Danny tries to get a job as a science professor. It doesn't matter how brilliant he is, or his lengthy employment history, his long gap of unemployment is all that stands out. The only job he's able to get is stocking shelves at a grocery store. He's repeatedly criticized and publicly humiliated by the store manager, which is so true to life. This brilliant man who cares for others is treated like garbage as he mops the floor of a grocery store; isn't that typical?

    But back to the bulk of the movie. The story is strong, and the psychic flashes will keep you guessing all the way to the end. In another true to life element, when Danny shows interest in helping a little girl, her mother thinks he has nefarious intentions. Your heart really goes out to him in this movie. If you like these types of plots, add Premonition and Shuffle to your list.

    DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. The psychic flashes sometimes have a strobing effect, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
    6hoytyhoyty

    Schmaltz but the right kind, mixed with a bit of suspense

    Maybe even a 7/10.

    Danny Glover has been in so many garbage films and series that he has become a bit of an underrated actor. In this film at least he gets to be the focus, and show us some of his ability. Also the child supporting lead is not the usual vile little snot-nosed thing, instead she's quite restrained and engaging.

    But overall, this film is so 'un-demanding', when really it should be an edge-of-the seat jobby. For some reason it just fails to scare.

    It's not boring, it's just ... more innocuous than it should be. We watched it late at night before work, and it made almost no emotional impression whatsoever.

    All of which makes it sound like a bad film!

    It's not, it's got a good little story and a couple of nice twists.

    You could sum it up by "I didn't mind it."

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
    Tragedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The shooting schedule was a tight twenty days, considering the multiple locations, stunt work, and budget.
    • Goofs
      In the newspaper clipping Donovan pulls out near the beginning of the movie, there is a typo. It says "Police and ambulances responded quickly to the seen.. (should be "scene").
    • Connections
      Featured in Starfilm (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      That Girl
      Written by Richard Markmann, Dan Pinella (as Daniel Pinella) and Christopher Wagner

      Performed by Matter

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Donovan's Echo?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 15, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tiếng vang của Donovan
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Common Man Films Ltd.
      • Donovan's Echo Productions
      • Maniacal Toon Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31m(91 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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