Donovan Reid

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prawnda s the insistent and generic piano music throughout what little i have watched of the film makes whatever value there might be in the script moot. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/30/24 Full Review Audience Member From wire to wire, the fascinating and suspenseful "Donovan Reid" offers its own unique brand of intrigue in this outstanding spin on the traditional missing persons vehicle. A young adult male (played by Weston Lee Ball) enters a police station. On a piece of paper, he simply writes, "I am Donovan Reid," thereby gifting us with the inciting incident to an exceedingly well-crafted film, and one which commands our keen attention throughout. It comes to pass that a boy by that same name disappeared a decade back, and his case has been a point of ongoing consumption for Detective Schleicher (Mike Schaffer). Yet this particular young man may or may not be Donovan, and doubts extend from the detective on down to Donovan's own mother (Lydia Revelos). His father Hank (Anthony Martinez), however, needs no further convincing; this is surely the return of his own prodigal son. Director and co-writer Austin Smagalski crafts layers of enveloping intrigue with enchanting back-story glimpses that grab the viewer by the cranium. The film's true greatness is tonal, and best manifested in its expert creation of atmospheric pressure and an ambiguity that permeates throughout. We've seen this true-life story play out on the evening news, and we're always pulling for the parents: Our hopes are that the mysterious figure self-declared as the long-lost child is indeed exactly that. As it rests its case, "Donovan Reid" has successfully worked the fringes here in a way that the best suspense vehicles of major Hollywood studios rarely muster, and it does so without the benefit of comparatively unlimited resources. Heavily recommended, and with no reservations. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Thoroughly enjoyed this little indie film. The cinematography was beautiful, the story was captivating, the pacing was perfect and I loved the ending. Can't wait to see what director Austin Smagalski does next. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Good film. Worth the money i spent to buy it. Story is fresh and original. Liked all actors but the lead Weston Ball did an amazing job with what he brought to his character. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Great film! Shot beautifully, well acted. Requires a second viewing from a new perspective. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/25/19 Full Review Read all reviews

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