Don McKay (2009)

Don McKay, a high school janitor who leaves his hometown after a tragedy, returns 25 years later to rekindle a romance with his old flame, who is dying, but this homecoming brings McKay more than he bargained for.

Director:

Jake Goldberger

Writer:

Jake Goldberger

Stars:

Thomas Haden Church, Elisabeth Shue, Melissa Leo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Thomas Haden Church	...	Don McKay
Rachel Harker	...	School Secretary
Stephen Benson	...	Principal Edwards
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Samuel
Melissa Leo	...	Marie (as Melissa Chessington Leo)
Elisabeth Shue	...	Sonny
Amanda George	...	Clerk (as Amanda Donaghey)
James Rebhorn	...	Dr. Lance Pryce
Bates Wilder	...	Officer Tierney
Keith David	...	Otis Kent
Melissa Rosal	...	Hostess
Meagan Hawkes	...	Colleen Simmons
Dossy Peabody	...	Cafeteria Worker
Robert Wahlberg	...	Alfred
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Mel

Storyline

Don McKay is living a very lowly life as a janitor. Then he receives a letter from his high school girlfriend, Sonny, who announces that she is dying and that she needs him to come back home. But when Don arrives back in his hometown, he finds Sonny's doctor has a crush on her and has no intention of letting Don back into her life, and the rest of the town remembers the tragedy that drove Don away in the first place and they have no intention of letting Don come back, at least not without paying some dues.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | two word title | school janitor | male female relationship | dead body wrapped in carpet | 

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Taglines:

Some secrets are better left buried.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Jake Goldberger mentions in the DVD commentary that he had an extensive conversation with Sissy Spacek about her playing the role of Marie.

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Goofs

When the taxi comes to pick Don up at Sonny's house the last time, it's obviously a different (younger) driver behind the wheel. When it cuts to the interior of the cab in the next scene, it's old Samuel driving the cab.

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Connections

Spoofs Serial Mom (1994)

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Soundtracks

If Love Comes Knockin'
Written by Ronald McCoy and Vaughn Curtis
Performed by The Topics
Courtesy of Carnival Records
By Arrangement with Westwood Music Group

User Reviews

"Don McKay" will throw you off-guard with its originality in presentation

"Don McKay" is marketed as an edgy thriller, that's probably because they had no idea how to categorize it.

The movie begins as a cross between a romantic drama, a character study, and a dark thriller. Don McKay, played brilliantly by Thomas Haden Church, returns to his hometown by a letter from his high school girlfriend, Sunny (Elisabeth Shue). That's the romantic drama aspect. But we quickly learn that there's something not quite right about Sunny, there's something not quite right with most people in the town, and McKay has dark secrets to his past. We are always on the lookout for creepy turns and shadows around every corner. Those are the dark thriller aspects.

It seems as if it's going to be a character study, but its really not about McKay himself. It's ultimately plot-driven and the mysterious problems that McKay gets himself into. I was riveted throughout.

I actually highly recommend "Don McKay" because it's cleverly written to throw its audience off-guard, it's completely original, and these film-makers know what they are doing. And no matter what genre you decide it is by the end, it won't be what you thought it was at the beginning.

Details

Official Sites:

Don McKay

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Moment of Truth

Filming Locations:

Andover, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,919, 4 April 2010

Gross USA:

$13,722

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,722

Company Credits

Production Co:

Animus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1