Lost on a Mountain in Maine (2024) Movie Review: A Predictable Tearjerker about Resilience that Examines Certain Aspects of Masculinity

Based on a true story, “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” follows 12-year-old Donn (Luke David Blumm), who fights his way through a terrifying storm on a mountain away from his family. Although an adventurous tale of a young boy’s survival, it also works as an introspection of masculinity in hindsight. Since the film is based on a real story from 1939, it presents the accounts of people who witnessed this incident and are now in or past their twilight years. The script interweaves them with a few bits of family drama along with its survivalist tale.

The film begins with Donn’s father, Donald (Paul Sparks), returning home from his job as a traveling salesman. While Donn and his brother Ryan (Griffin Wallace Henkel) are in a friendly mood, Donald isn’t. He is self-serious to a fault and expects his sons to grow into strong men. He wants them to be on their best behavior at all times and doesn’t entertain their childlike innocence. Moreover, he forces etiquette on them and doesn’t show emotional warmth, be it through his words or gestures.

Donald’s wife, Ruth (Caitlin FitzGerald) entertains his behavior and does not say a single word against him. While the kids look at her with hope, she stays dutifully obedient to Donald. Through Donald, we see the old-school portrait of an absent father, who prides himself on providing his family with food and shelter. He pressures the kids to be tough men even if they are barely in their teens. So, the kids turn either secretly or bluntly rebellious against him. Although Ruth matches their enthusiastic playfulness, she remains a near-silent figure in the family that lets Donald’s regression flourish.

Suffice it to say, ‘survival’ takes a different meaning in the context of its characters. The father is attuned to the kind of behavior expected of him because of societal regulations. As a man, he is supposed to find his way through thick and thin without showing any emotion. For him, being vulnerable might even be a sin. While that holds true, the film stops short of depicting him as ruthlessly as similar films have portrayed characters like him. Instead, we see signs of his timidness, guilt, and concern that make him seem more human. After all, he is a product of his conditioning where rational or critical thought is not allowed to breathe. The script allows us to see signs of his repressed emotions.

Lost on a Mountain in Maine (2024) Movie Review — Another still from “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” (2024)

While examining the perils of unchecked masculinity, the film presents Donn’s tale of survival. That’s where it falters. As viewers, we understand the dangers for a 12-year-old kid to be stuck in such a storm on a treacherous mountain. They are self-evident. Reintroducing the danger through real-life accounts adds little to the film’s emotional impact, barely enhancing its intensity. Instead, this choice feels like a tired attempt as it tries to fit itself into the mold of an ‘inspirational’ tale. On a script level, it is a by-the-numbers survival tale. It could have been far more impactful without this narrative device that feeds excessive but mostly unnecessary information to the viewer. Mostly, it introduces sentimental moments into an adventure that immediately turns it into a predictable tearjerker.

Regardless, “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” works the finest when it explores the mental landscapes of Donn’s parents, played beautifully by Caitlin FitzGerald and Paul Sparks. They convey Ruth and Donald’s anguish and mental strength while believing in the light at the end of the tunnel when it seems implausible. FitzGerald and Sparks bring more shades of their characters to make their remorse or resilience appear multi-faceted. Their arcs mainly show this tragic incident changing them along the way. Despite the obviousness of their psychological journey, FitzGerald and Sparks churn out far more nuances through glances and silences. So, while the adventurous tale is fairly lackluster, their rooted performances keep you invested in the child’s well-being.