Lost on a Mountain in Maine Parent Guide
Positive messages are the point of this story of survival, courage, and family ties.
Parent Movie Review
Twelve can be a difficult age. It certainly is for Donn Fendler (Luke David Blumm), who is irritable and on edge with his twin, Ryan (Griffin Wallace Henkel). When their father (Paul Sparks) returns home from an extended work trip, Donn is disappointed to learn that further business travel means a planned fishing trip must be canceled. Aware of his boys’ disappointment, Donald Fendler suggests a hike up Mount Katahdin instead.
Donn is not mollified by his dad’s proposal and grumbles his way up the mountain. Too soon, bad weather and bad temper see Donn separated from his group. Now the 12-year-old will have to rely on his wits, gumption, and past counsel from his father if he’s going to survive.
Lost on a Mountain in Maine is based on a true story that took place in 1939. It’s a harrowing tale of a child’s misadventures in a vast, treacherous wilderness and also of his family’s emotional anguish. The film takes us through Donn’s fear, injuries, and exhaustion, which alternate with scenes of his family’s fear, guilt, and exhaustion. This combination works well for me: I tend to get bored with long wilderness scenes, so watching Ruth Fendler (Caitlin FitzGerald) organize media coverage and volunteers to find her son provide moments of uplift between the tense scenes of Donn’s peril.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this film. I don’t particularly care for survival stories, but this movie’s rich emotional connections kept me interested when scenes of wilderness hacks would have bored me. With that in mind, I must give credit to the film’s very capable cast. Luke David Blumm left me in awe; impressed that such a young actor could so fully inhabit a role. There’s no stiffness here, nothing to come between the character’s transparent emotion and the audience. I will be very interested to see the direction this young man’s career takes in future. Caitlin FitzGerald brings steadfast love and optimism to her role and as for Paul Sparks, his face is carved by anxiety and guilt as he throws himself into the search for his son.
Parents who are looking for an uplifting family film can safely take older children to Lost on a Mountain in Maine. Negative content is minimal – three minor curse words, some sibling fighting, a few scenes of bloody injuries. Donn experiences some hallucinations, which could disturb some viewers, but that’s as bad as it gets. Positive messages, on the other hand, are the major focus of the film. This is a story about courage, persistence, and grit. It’s a reminder of the incredible power of family bonds; of how those relationships can be a source of strength even when we are separated from those we love. I ended the movie sniffling with happy tears and that’s about as good as it gets in the world of family cinema.
Directed by Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger. Starring Luke David Blumm , Paul Sparks, Caitlin FitzGerald. Running time: 98 minutes. Theatrical release November 1, 2024. Updated October 28, 2024Watch the trailer for Lost on a Mountain in Maine
Lost on a Mountain in Maine
Rating & Content Info
Why is Lost on a Mountain in Maine rated PG? Lost on a Mountain in Maine is rated PG by the MPAA for thematic elements, peril, language and some injury images.
Violence: There’s some hitting and pushing between brothers. Some injuries are seen with visible blood. A man runs into a tree, nearly losing his eye, and is seen with a bandage over it.
Sexual Content: None.
Profanity: The script contains two minor profanities and a term of deity. There is some minor name calling between siblings – “idiot”, “dummy”.
Alcohol / Drug Use: None.
Page last updated October 28, 2024
Lost on a Mountain in Maine Parents' Guide
Why does Donn get lost? How many of the family blame themselves? Who do you think is really at fault?
Why does Donn’s mother say she’s relieved that Donn is the son who got lost? Was her reasoning correct?
For more information about the historical events, you can read the articles below.
Wikipedia: Donn Fendler
Millinocket Historical Society: Lost on Katahdin, 1939-Donn Fendler
Loved this movie? Try these books…
This film is based on the book Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler and Joseph Egan. The story is also told in a graphic novel, Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness, by Donn Fendler and Ben Bishop.
Home Video
Related home video titles:
In a very different climate, a man finds himself surviving after he gets caught in a rock crevice in 127 Hours.
After a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean, a man finds himself a Cast Away on a small island, forced to find ways to survive (and do his own dentistry).
When a storm capsizes a small boat, a boy and his dog have gone missing. They find their way to safety in Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog.