Metascore

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 38 Ratings

  • Starring: Jon Voight, Tamara Hope, Trent Ford
  • Summary: On September 11, 1857, in an unspoiled valley of the Utah territory--and in the name of God--120 men, women, and children were savagely murdered. Who ordered the massacre, and why, has been hidden in a cloak of secrecy and conspiracy. And the reputation of one of this nation's mightiest religious figures has been preserved and protected. This film is based on historical events. (Slow Hand Releasing)
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 18
  2. Negative: 11 out of 18
  1. Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    63
    Most significant and contrary to the Mormon Church's ongoing position, the film depicts Young as present when the plot is hatched to slaughter the emigrants. Needless to say, this workmanlike but unflinching film won't be playing in Utah anytime soon.
  2. The cruel simplicity of the atrocity is made needlessly chaotic by artless camerawork that swishes rapidly back and forth across the action, to the accompaniment of a syrupy soundtrack.
  3. September Dawn, written by an evangelical Christian, may be the worst historical drama ever made.
  4. 38
    Filmmaker Christopher Cain has turned a national tragedy into a teen romance, and not in a grand, entertaining, "Titanic" way.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 28
  3. Negative: 18 out of 28
  1. khela'ri
    10
    This was a very good movie, where it shows all of us what that amount of hatred can do to a group of people. This is an untold story that needs to be in the history books, the Mormons have tried hard to keep this under wraps and now its out in the open, we should respect those who died on that day, and remember them because their story is no less important that the story of slavery and that of WW1 ad WW2. Kudos, to Christoper Cain, his crew and cast for such an outstanding movie. Expand
  2. G.Roll
    8
    The low ratings are only because Mormons are portrayed as fanatics and contrasted against Christians. If you're in neither of the sects, you could think that the movie is about what religious faith can do to people in general, that only with a heavenly mandate a good person could commit such atrocities. That seems to be the moral behind this film, and from that perspective it is perfectly enjoyable and not biased against any particular religious cult. Expand
  3. ananymous
    6
    This movie wasn't poorly made but I believe that the depictions of Mormon beliefs were exaggerated and it sort of gave the idea that Christianity is a better more forgiving religion even though it's not. Expand
  4. AdamD.
    3
    Lol@all of the positive user reviews which were obviously done by the same person. Anyway, this movie was the worst I've seen this year, nay, for the last 6 (not as bad Babygeniuses 2). I can't give this a zero because it made me laugh so hard, especially at the fake looking testicles nailed to a board. This movie was obviously made to get people to hate mormons. It depicts the christians the mormons slaughter as perfect rays of fucking sunshine, and the mormons as demonic cultists. The acting is horrendous, not to mention the camera work. Anyway just do yourself a favor and avoid this...unless you feel like laughing your ass off at a mess of filmmaking. Expand

See all 28 User Reviews

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