Don't Go: Difficult to categorise: horror, time slips, attempting to change past events, maybe a touch of the supernatural about it. Ben blames himself (as does his wife Hazel) for the death of his child, Molly, who died in an accident. His guilt is worsened by where he really was when Molly perished. Ben and Hazel move to the West of Ireland to renovate a hotel but instead of being a new start Ben has strange dreams. He is transported back to a time when all three of them were on a beach. Even when awake he keeps seeing the slogan Seas The Day. He becomes obsessed with the idea of actually time travelling to avert the accident. The oddities of his situation are well illustrated - he has conversations with people who aren't really there yet seems to be able to being physical objects back from his time-slip dreams. The themes of guilt (plus hiding the truth)and the need for redemption run Don't Go but the realisation that redemption comes at a price is made all too clear. Reality (and Ben's imaginary conversations) is generally shot with a darker filter while the past beach scenes are in brighter colours. The film is unevenly paced with too much time used to set up the critical scenes, it might have worked better as a 60 minute episode of an anthology series. Directed by David Gleeson from a script by Ronan Blaney and John Collins. Saw it on RTE. 6/10.
34 Reviews
Ignore disturbed_guy's review
roobeedoo23 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
He obviously did not watch the movie, thus most of his review is utter nonsense. These are some of the points on which he was mistaken:
It was clearly stated in the beginning of the film what happened to the daughter. Disturbed_guy must have finished his joint during the opening credits to have missed this.
The boat had nothing to do with what happened to the daughter.
The daughter died prior to the events portrayed, not during the film.
The people on the boat were not drunk.
The boat did not drive up on shore.
There is no "random drunk woman", it is the wife's college roommate/best friend.
The wife and her friends do not get drunk (though they are inexplicably in their underwear), they get high on a joint he confiscated from a student. There's an entire conversation about this, how he missed it is a mystery.
The wife does not find out hubby slept with bestie, she tries to OD because hubby is going crazy.
He does not just "stumble upon" dead bestie, she had been temporarily living with them and had a history of substance abuse and severe mental health issues.
Hubby does not "swim headfirst" into the boat (it is clearly shown to be an accident) to save the daughter because: see points 1-4.
The acting, cinematography, scenery and music are well done. It's not horror or even thriller, It's a drama. There is no blood and guts and no jump scares. The story is evenly paced and interesting enough to keep the viewer's attention. It's not Oscar worthy but it's worth a watch.
The acting, cinematography, scenery and music are well done. It's not horror or even thriller, It's a drama. There is no blood and guts and no jump scares. The story is evenly paced and interesting enough to keep the viewer's attention. It's not Oscar worthy but it's worth a watch.
SeAs the Day
nogodnomasters21 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Ben Slater (Stephen Dorff) and his wife Hazel (Melissa George) morn the death of their child Molly (Grace Farrell) who fell down the stairs. At 50 minutes into the film, we get the sordid details. Ben was a realistic recurrent dream and believes he can bring his daughter back if he holds on to her.
Ben struggles with the messages and tries to decipher what they want while teaching Macbeth.
This is not a horror or ghost story. It is a story of redemption, love, sacrifice, and going down the right path.
Guide: F-word, sex, nudity (Aoibhinn McGinnity)
Ben struggles with the messages and tries to decipher what they want while teaching Macbeth.
This is not a horror or ghost story. It is a story of redemption, love, sacrifice, and going down the right path.
Guide: F-word, sex, nudity (Aoibhinn McGinnity)
Just average.
deloudelouvain18 March 2019
Mystery movies are my favorite genre so I'm always excited when it's one of those stories with twists and turns but in this case it just fell short. The plot was much too confusing, not that original, with a slow repeating pace. The cast wasn't bad so no actor has to be blamed for the lower score. It's just the story that is not that captivating, unless maybe you lost a child yourself at one point so you can understand the despair of the father more. I can understand that people are going to like this movie but for me it was just not good enough, at least not to be remembered.
Glad I Checked It Out
Foutainoflife28 February 2019
A father struggling with the death of his young daughter begins to believe he can change the past by a memory that becomes a reoccurring dream. Is it possible or is he simply losing his mind.
This film was decent. The actors played their characters with a lot of sincerity and the story was relatable. It felt a little slow at times and it would have been better with more depth invested into the individual characters and the way they interacted with one another. It's nothing that will blow you away but it was an entertaining watch.
This film was decent. The actors played their characters with a lot of sincerity and the story was relatable. It felt a little slow at times and it would have been better with more depth invested into the individual characters and the way they interacted with one another. It's nothing that will blow you away but it was an entertaining watch.
Did I miss something...?
gtenalokes19 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
All i saw was a cheating husband going crazy because he's daughter died after she caught him in the act...
Nice built up but From my point of view, they failed to properly connect the dots.. and ruined the whole movie in the process...
Nice built up but From my point of view, they failed to properly connect the dots.. and ruined the whole movie in the process...
wow
natcalgary29 October 2018
I just threw this movie on for some background noise and it blew me away. Was not expecting that at all. By the end of the movie I felt sad and happy and confused and fullfilled and blown away all at once.
Nicely done
7.8
Nicely done
7.8
Don't Watch!
rileyadairgarret22 March 2022
Really. Don't waste your time. It's a slow moving, plodding story that you think is going to leave you with a gem of knowledge, truth, a hard lesson, something! Instead it leaves you unfilled and regretting that you wasted so much time. Too bad too. It had a great setting and good actors, but all for naught.
exciting from start to end
ops-525357 March 2019
This is the kind of twisted movie that will haunt your uncouncious nerve synapsis in your sleeping dreams. not wet they are, but a puzzle that made me think more than twice, and a maze to get out of. its a film that has two choices, start watching the end first or do it the regular way. its complicated but good
there are signs upon signs on top of signs, in dreams upon dreams on top of dreams. it has so much grieve,and so much hopes and wishes, till you start thinking the impossible will be possible. there are good pace all over,ok story and plot, acting very well done. the filmography are great, with lots of shifting themes, and the score are brilliantly used ,like a babys lollaby-song.the piano sequences that repeats inbetween are like hubba bubba under the shoes,sticky and difficult to get away.
so if your in for a mystery-drama, have a look at dont go,the grumpy old man says
there are signs upon signs on top of signs, in dreams upon dreams on top of dreams. it has so much grieve,and so much hopes and wishes, till you start thinking the impossible will be possible. there are good pace all over,ok story and plot, acting very well done. the filmography are great, with lots of shifting themes, and the score are brilliantly used ,like a babys lollaby-song.the piano sequences that repeats inbetween are like hubba bubba under the shoes,sticky and difficult to get away.
so if your in for a mystery-drama, have a look at dont go,the grumpy old man says
Nice production of a variation on The Butterfly Effect theme comes along short
carlos-pires16 March 2019
Yet another dud featuring Stephen Dorff. At this pace, he's bound to become the next Eric Roberts.
This one is nicely done, with a really great supporting cast, nice cinematography and direction, good editing, etc. But one thing falls short, and another goes a little too far.
As usual, what goes a little too far is Stephen Dorff: he's always trying too hard to "act". Well, not always, but enough for you to notice he's trying too hard...
What falls short is the plot. It sucks. Besides the fact that you can see the ending a mile away, there is no tension whatsoever, not even for a second, and then there's the ridiculous mystery animal (crows) and the ridiculous mystery-man (a furniture mover dressed in a crow-themed T-shirt bought online, who drops a couple of lines of platitudinous BS).
If you are a romantic 12-year old, this might blow your mind. If you're an adult, you might enjoy this movie as a mild waste of time. You will forget it in 20 minutes, that's why I'm writing this ASAP after watching it.
Beautiful
ianxmas18 October 2019
Such an antidote to today's sex, violence, bad language and CGI. If you like all of those things, don't bother with this movie. However, if you want a mysterious and emotionally-moving story, cleverly told and portrayed by actors with a convincing range of real emotions, treat yourself to this. A slowly unfolding story of tragedy, with clever metaphors interwoven into the storyline. A moving film which leaves you with a feeling of emotional involvement. Worth watching twice, as at the end of the first viewing you realise that there were a host of references and clues that you missed first time round. Thank you, Ireland, for spurning the 'popular' genre of films and giving us something thoughtful.
Liked it
gavin-358626 June 2019
Boring plot
welfareasia9 November 2023
"Prepare yourself for an unparalleled cinematic ordeal. The movie in question, if it can be generously labeled as such, unfolds at an agonizing pace, drowning the audience in an ocean of mind-numbing dialogue. With every passing minute, the film becomes a marathon of verbal monotony, leaving one yearning for the sweet embrace of silence.
The screenplay, or lack thereof, seems to revel in its refusal to adhere to basic storytelling principles. Characters engage in lengthy conversations that meander aimlessly, devoid of any discernible purpose. One could argue that the scriptwriter mistook verbosity for depth, as the incessant dialogue fails to contribute meaningfully to the plot, assuming there is one hidden beneath the verbal labyrinth.
The narrative, if we can generously use that term, is an elusive phantom, a mirage that vanishes upon closer inspection. The audience is left adrift in a sea of disconnected scenes, struggling to discern a coherent story arc. It's as if the filmmakers abandoned any pretense of crafting a compelling plot, opting instead for a disjointed collection of events that defy logical progression.
The characters, mere vessels for the ceaseless verbal onslaught, lack depth or relatability. Viewers are forced to endure exchanges that serve no purpose other than to prolong the agonizing runtime. It's a cinematic experiment gone awry, where character development is sacrificed at the altar of tedious dialogue.
The cinematography, while technically proficient, fails to salvage the sinking ship of this cinematic endeavor. Scenes linger interminably, capturing the mundane minutiae of characters engaged in mundane conversations. The visual composition, rather than enhancing the viewing experience, becomes a cruel accomplice in subjecting the audience to the drudgery unfolding on screen.
The soundtrack, if one can call it that, is a forgettable symphony of mediocrity. It neither complements nor elevates the viewing experience; instead, it serves as a background hum to the verbal onslaught, fading into the background as the audience grapples with the tedium unfolding before them.
As the credits mercifully roll, one is left to ponder the purpose of this cinematic endeavor. Was it an attempt to redefine storytelling, an avant-garde exploration that missed the mark entirely? Or perhaps a misguided experiment in pushing the boundaries of audience endurance? Whatever the intention, the result is an arduous journey through a cinematic wasteland, leaving viewers questioning the value of their time and the elusive one star out of ten feels almost too generous.
In conclusion, this movie is a testament to the perils of prioritizing talk over substance, of forsaking a coherent narrative for the illusion of intellectual depth. It stands as a cautionary tale for filmmakers tempted to venture into the abyss of verbosity without a lifeline of engaging storytelling. Save yourself the agony and choose a cinematic experience that respects your time and intellect."
The screenplay, or lack thereof, seems to revel in its refusal to adhere to basic storytelling principles. Characters engage in lengthy conversations that meander aimlessly, devoid of any discernible purpose. One could argue that the scriptwriter mistook verbosity for depth, as the incessant dialogue fails to contribute meaningfully to the plot, assuming there is one hidden beneath the verbal labyrinth.
The narrative, if we can generously use that term, is an elusive phantom, a mirage that vanishes upon closer inspection. The audience is left adrift in a sea of disconnected scenes, struggling to discern a coherent story arc. It's as if the filmmakers abandoned any pretense of crafting a compelling plot, opting instead for a disjointed collection of events that defy logical progression.
The characters, mere vessels for the ceaseless verbal onslaught, lack depth or relatability. Viewers are forced to endure exchanges that serve no purpose other than to prolong the agonizing runtime. It's a cinematic experiment gone awry, where character development is sacrificed at the altar of tedious dialogue.
The cinematography, while technically proficient, fails to salvage the sinking ship of this cinematic endeavor. Scenes linger interminably, capturing the mundane minutiae of characters engaged in mundane conversations. The visual composition, rather than enhancing the viewing experience, becomes a cruel accomplice in subjecting the audience to the drudgery unfolding on screen.
The soundtrack, if one can call it that, is a forgettable symphony of mediocrity. It neither complements nor elevates the viewing experience; instead, it serves as a background hum to the verbal onslaught, fading into the background as the audience grapples with the tedium unfolding before them.
As the credits mercifully roll, one is left to ponder the purpose of this cinematic endeavor. Was it an attempt to redefine storytelling, an avant-garde exploration that missed the mark entirely? Or perhaps a misguided experiment in pushing the boundaries of audience endurance? Whatever the intention, the result is an arduous journey through a cinematic wasteland, leaving viewers questioning the value of their time and the elusive one star out of ten feels almost too generous.
In conclusion, this movie is a testament to the perils of prioritizing talk over substance, of forsaking a coherent narrative for the illusion of intellectual depth. It stands as a cautionary tale for filmmakers tempted to venture into the abyss of verbosity without a lifeline of engaging storytelling. Save yourself the agony and choose a cinematic experience that respects your time and intellect."
Disappointing
tlarraya10 March 2019
Beautiful, but don't try to overthink it...
patrick-lafont1 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
It's really interesting, I thought it would just be a movie about a couple grieving and the father not accepting his daughter's death, thus imagining a way for her to connect with her.
There's a twist, but yet I fail to see the connection between both parts of the story, in a sense the point of the movie. Do we see a ghost's private hell, because of the guilt he carried about having an affair? why did the daughter die in this story?
To me, it looks like either the original ending was different, and they changed it to have a twist at the end, or the twist was what they were trying to get to, and the storytelling should have been better. Too bad...
Strange
blankme4 October 2019
I am not sure what to make of this film, perhaps I needed to suspend belief and believe in the characters more. Father apparently loses child and has recurring dreams about the last day although why or how the child died is not mentioned or shown. Then we have the situation where this man appears to be having a breakdown because of his grief. The premise of the story appears to question what is real and what isn't and just left me bewildered.
Worth a watch.
loveglow10126 June 2021
Watch it if you want to be bored
vkwcycyxt20 March 2021
I am confuesed
lrostampour6 November 2020
Nicely done!
haroot_azarian27 October 2018
Unbelievably boring. Not a ghost nor horror story
lopezpatricia-0613924 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This was an Uber boring film about a cheating man who's daughter falls down the stairs and dies after finding daddy in bed with another woman. He goes into the beach with sleeping pills and booze and has these dreams about the family playing with sandcastles. At the very end he swims into the sea and is killed by a boat. Then wife goes home and finds the daughter alive. Who wrote and made this film needs a slap.
The movie caused SEASickness
burgerman9327 August 2023
The acting, scenery, and music had me convinced that this would be a good thriller. However the missing piece of the puzzle is the science of reasoning.
If this main character can somehow alter his own timeline, why does he have to die? The boat accident (or near accident) has zero causal affect to the daughter falling down the stairs. Couldn't Ben just embrace his family at the beach and not cheat on his wife's best friend?
A lot of the connections to Shakespearean literature or attempts of symbolism were haphazard. I was left high and dry when the credits rolled. Maybe I missed the forest for the trees here.
If this main character can somehow alter his own timeline, why does he have to die? The boat accident (or near accident) has zero causal affect to the daughter falling down the stairs. Couldn't Ben just embrace his family at the beach and not cheat on his wife's best friend?
A lot of the connections to Shakespearean literature or attempts of symbolism were haphazard. I was left high and dry when the credits rolled. Maybe I missed the forest for the trees here.
I enjoyed it
davismargo3 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
DISTURBED_GUY, did you fall asleep with your girlfriend and just make up bits (at no point did the boat mount the shore and kill the daughter),
If you watched the film properly you would have noticed the child fell down the stairs banged her head and died) the rest you cannot put together as you did not understand it or as I suspect you did fall asleep with the girlfriend lol
Surprising twists
woja-1119708 March 2019
I'm the same as natcalgary. I put it on for some background noise. But I noticed a few different scenes that made me pause it near the end and to watch it from the start, properly. I got the gist of the story and surprisingly these parents stay together but I didn't see enough the first time to spoil the end. I loved the ending, I didn't see it coming and that's the kind of movie I love. Hate it when a movie is entirely predictable but this one is not. It's a must watch (in my eyes). ENJOY!
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