Don McKay

Play trailer

Don McKay

R

Released Apr 2, 2010

1h 27m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

24%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Everything appears off-kilter when a man (Thomas Haden Church) returns to his hometown after 25 years to visit his former lover (Elisabeth Shue).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Thomas Haden Church and Elisabeth Shue do their best with what they're given, but Don McKay is too confused and far-fetched to be taken seriously as a noir, and too inconsistent to work as a black comedy.

Read Critics Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Goldberger gets a few good tonal feints in, especially when he consults the Coen recipe book for the disorienting effect of blood (and bloody violence) on American simple folk.

Rated: B-

Apr 7, 2010

Full Review

Manohla Dargis

New York Times

When you pack your movie with performers like Mr. Church, Ms. Leo, Mr. Rebhorn and Keith David (as Don(TM)s old friend), all with faces and deliveries that can slide easily between comedy and menace, you(TM)re holding a full house.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 2, 2010

Full Review

Lou Lumenick

New York Post

Don McKay certainly has its moments, but it never manages to maintain the consistent tone so crucial if a black comedy is going to actually be funny.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 2, 2010

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an almost aggressively pointless piece of work that simply isn't able to justify its very existence.

Rated: 1/4

Jul 31, 2011

Full Review

Brian Orndorf

DVDTalk.com

Labored and distractingly uneven, Don McKay comes across as a lackadaisical film school writing assignment that somehow lucked into a feature film deal.

Rated: D+

Jul 24, 2010

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Goldberger makes the most of his eclectic, multi-Oscar-nominated cast to make up for the lack of scope and visual panache, not to mention the sometimes strained machinations of his plot

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 29, 2010

Full Review

Read all reviews

Daniel B

"Don McKay" is a captivating neo-noir thriller that masterfully blends suspense, dark humor, and unexpected twists. Thomas Haden Church delivers a compelling performance as the titular character, a reclusive janitor who returns to his hometown after 25 years, only to find himself entangled in a web of deception and intrigue. Elisabeth Shue shines as Sonny, his enigmatic former lover, whose mysterious illness sets the plot in motion. The film's atmosphere is enhanced by its moody cinematography and a haunting score that keeps viewers on edge. Director Jake Goldberger skillfully crafts a narrative that keeps audiences guessing until the very end, making "Don McKay" a must-watch for fans of the genre.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Now this film is a confusing one.it has fairly good acting from church and david and rebhorn gives a scary stunning performance in the parts he's in. Also walsh gives a comedic and entertaining performance. But this movie doesn't know if it's a crime drama a romance or a dark comedy and it ends up muddled in the build up. The end stages of the film deliver a excellent twist a sad truth to the story If it wasn't for the conclusion of the story it would be a two star movie but I'll say it's worth the watch

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

(** 1/2): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] An interesting film that fell apart for me at the end. A near-miss.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Thomas Haden Church is ideal as a lonely, melancholic man who is trying to give a meaning to his boring life. And possibly the only reason to watch Don McKay.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A little insane, but fun to watch. Love Thomas Haden Church!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A lukewarm Lynch-like film that leaves much to be desired, especially from stiff-jointed actress Elisabeth Shue. The movie's a series of curve balls without any real dramatic tension. It also can't make up its mind tonally. One minute it's a serious thriller, the next a black comedy. It's very rough and with a little work it could have been a bit more interesting. It's just a mess of a movie that will only mildly entertain.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jake Goldberger

Director

Thomas Haden Church

Don McKay

Elisabeth Shue

Sonny

Melissa Leo

Marie

M. Emmet Walsh

Samuel

Keith David

Otis Kent

The Woman in the Fifth

59%

22%

The Woman in the Fifth

Watchlist

Missionary

44%

23%

Missionary

Watchlist

Beneath the Darkness

0%

15%

Beneath the Darkness

Watchlist

The Tortured

6%

35%

The Tortured

Watchlist

The Victim

29%

24%

The Victim

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: Titans Is Not A Kraken Good Time

View more photos

Synopsis

Everything appears off-kilter when a man (Thomas Haden Church) returns to his hometown after 25 years to visit his former lover (Elisabeth Shue).

Director: Jake Goldberger
Producer: Jim Young
Screenwriter: Jake Goldberger
Distributor: Image, Animus Films
Rating: R (Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 2, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 29, 2010
Runtime: 1h 27m

Most Popular at Home Now