Eight Days to Live (2006 TV Movie) User Reviews (14)

Loosely based on true story (possible spoiler)

[m_hanrahan · 5/10 · 29 May 2006]

This movie doesn't claim to be a true story; rather it claims it is "based on a true story". Given the number of details that have been changed, I would say "LOOSELY based on a true story" would be more accurate. I live in the Vancouver area, which is near Aldergrove where the Spring family lives. I also grew up in Quesnel, which was Joe Spring's initial destination, and roughly halfway to his final destination of Prince Rupert (which wasn't mentioned). As such, I took a special interest in the events as they unfolded at the time.

The whole subplot involving the drug dealers was completely fabricated. So were all other encounters on the trip. They had him found on his return trip over 400km (250miles) from where he was actually found, when he actually went missing on the initial leg of his journey. The movie also implied that he was facing winter-conditions out in the wilderness. In fact, the events happened in late May, and while Canada is known for its winters, there would have been no snow on the ground, and the temperatures would not have gone below freezing. Seasonable daytime highs of 21C(70F) would be expected. Finally, while the true family dynamic can only be known by the Spring family, I suspect that the dysfunction was largely exaggerated by the writers.

In reality, he left his home at 11pm after a late shift at work. The area he was found was roughly 500km(312miles) away, which would have put him there at around 4am depending on how fast he was driving. Having driven that stretch of highway hundreds of times, I know how dangerous it can be, with all its twists and turns and steep banks, if you are not alert, especially when it's dark. Most sections on this highway have been fitted with "wake-up" strips along the shoulders and median to help prevent this type of accident, but I don't believe they were in place at the time Joe Spring went missing.

There were some points in the movie that did ring true, however. He did survive 8 days trapped in his car without food and water after veering off the road into the trees. The initial search and rescue operations were centered on areas far from where he was found. And, he was found by helicopter after the search and rescue operation was called off.

The most remarkable fact to me, which would seem to have been ideal "movie material" that was left out was that when the police officers found him, they had to chase off some curious bears who were in the area.

In short, the true story of Joe's will to survive and how his family never gave up hope was remarkable in itself. I do not believe the altered facts were necessary and (to me at least), made the movie less enjoyable.

The following links contain news articles surrounding these events:

http://www.langleyadvance.com/issues01/06101/top1.htm

http://www.langleyadvance.com/issues01/06201/news/06201N4.html

Eight Days to Live: Decent effort until 9/10 of the way through

[Platypuschow · 5/10 · 7 January 2018]

Eight Days To Live is one of those films I found myself questioning how I got around to watching, it wasn't on my watchlist and I'd never even heard of it.

It's a Lifetime original movie, it looks great and it's cast is brilliant. It stars Kelly Rowan, Michael Eklund and the always excellent Katherine Isabelle.

It tells the story of a 19 year old who goes missing enroute to a party and his families efforts to find him, pretty simple stuff.

Thing is it's actually really quite well made, some of the characters aren't overly likeable but the cast make the best of what they've been given and actually impressed me.

The story though simple is paced perfectly and I found myself really quite gripped and looking forward to seeing where it was building to.

Then it all goes wrong, then it delivers a finale that kills the film stone dead. The finale is unbelievable on many levels and I'm so disappointed with it. I was enjoying the film, this is something I would have gone on to recommend but then THAT happened. Oh dear.

Watchable film if you just close your eyes and imagine your own ending.

The Good:

Gripping

Great cast

Very well made

The Bad:

One of the worst endings I've ever seen

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Someone needs firing for coming up with that ending

Cheating protagonists are really a thing now aren't they!

Michael Eklund was born to be a bad guy

Disappearing Driver

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 13 August 2014]

Nineteen-year-old Dustin Milligan (as Joseph "Joe" Spring) likes fast cars and fast women. He's reckless behind the wheel, but mother Kelly Rowan (as Teresa) thinks Mr. Milligan has become a "good driver" now that he's back on the road, after losing his license for six months. Milligan wants to take the car out to a party for the weekend. While they have some reservations, mother Rowan and father Shawn Doyle (as Tim) disagreeably give him permission to make the trip. However, he loses his cell-phone during a pre-trip sex date and doesn't call home as promised. Rowan calls the police, but they can't declare Milligan a missing person right away. Beginning the investigation on their own, the family soon discovers something has gone terribly wrong...

"Inspired by a true story," according to the introduction, this starts out as a very believable drama. Milligan is convincing as a good looking young man interested in sex and cars. Rowan is fine as his increasingly frantic mother. For a supposedly true story, there are some notable problems, however. Matthew Matheson (as Powell River) plays a young boy who stands in the middle of an oncoming car – this suicide attempt (?) and his later solo (?) trip to the police station are not credible. Younger (?) siblings Tegan Moss (as Becca) and Ryan McDonell (as Will) seem older. Perhaps most puzzling is a crash victim's exposed body not attracting wild life. Still, director Norma Bailey and the crew manage to keep the story engaging – and the music is terrific.

****** Eight Days to Live (4/2/06) Norma Bailey ~ Kelly Rowan, Dustin Milligan, Shawn Doyle, Tegan Moss

Entertaining

[bluenoser · 30 December 2009]

I don't think the story itself was that remarkable, so they had little choice but to pad it out. Unfortunately, it drifted off into so much fiction, it left little but the main concept (boy stranded for 8 days) of the actual story.

In response to the other reviewer who said the weather was warm there, it dropped to 2C (nearly freezing) at night, according to the CBC news account.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2001/05/30/bcteen_010530.html

I would like to have seen more of young man's struggles during this time. The bears and wildlife would have been an interesting element to add.

Review of 8 days to live Feb. 17, 2014 CTV

[chwiqfm · 7/10 · 18 February 2014]

I am giving this movie a 7 out of 10 because of its very real portrayal of our Canadian RCMP and Police systems and how they respond when a person goes missing. This portrayal is exactly how it happens and so real it is eerie. The fact that Joe is nineteen, a teenager and male is also a big factor in the reaction to his being missing. The Mother in the movie with the hair in her face, this is just for effect. The family would never be allowed to search with Search and Rescue as they are not trained. A boy showing up in the middle of the road, very out of place and why?. Drugs and young girl on face book very believable and possible though not in this case. I have a son that is missing and never been found. He also travelled in the PG area though that is not where he is missing. It has been extremely difficult and painstakingly slow over the years to get the RCMP and police to follow up on my missing son. It is exactly what this family went through for the week extended over years. I was very grateful that Joe lived. The helicopter pilot in real life would never have gone up in the air against orders. In real life the Mother would never be allowed to touch Joe at the accident scene as in the case of another scenario she would contaminate evidence. my real life opinion e

The most padded movie ever!

[flyingator · 2/10 · 21 May 2006]

This movie is said to be based on a true story. It started out pretty good and unraveled at a nice pace. After the first half of the movie, though, the characters that you are introduced to and all the previous plot twists become completely insignificant. In fact, the first half of the movie is completely different than the second half. Consequently, the movie turns into a story of of a broken family coming together, completely with the cheesiest attempts to jerk tears from the audience, some are even dull rip-off's from other films. For the most part, all the characters are well acted, which is the strongest thing that it really has going for it. I would have excluded the weird 35-year-old-looking daughter that is supposed to be a fragile little girl. Her appearances are very annoying and she doesn't help at all. Overall, I think this film kind of shows that families should leave everything up to the police in times of crisis. My biggest problem with the movie is how they find the missing kid (the point of the movie). The way that they do makes the previous 95% completely useless (*spoiler* the kid fell asleep at the wheel and ran off the road. A random truck driver had spotted him and came in to tell the cops *spoiler*). So, I suggest you watch the first half then catch the last 10 minutes if you are interested. 95% of this movie has no purpose.

Good Movie

[moe_z24 · 8/10 · 23 April 2006]

This is a pretty good movie. It has a good story and good acting. It's based on a true story a son, Joe Spring, who goes missing after he doesn't return home when he said he would. His mother, Teresa Spring(Kelly Rowan from Fox's "The OC") learns that he never made it to the party he said he was going to, so she goes searching for him.

It's a different kind of movie, the kind that can teach you stuff. I think it was good because it's a Lifetime movie and they usually turn out pretty good. Next time this movie's on, I suggest watching it. I know I will. I think it can teach parents to always make sure you know where you're kids are because you never know if you will see them again.

Loved It!!!

[scorbin-1 · 9/10 · 10 September 2007]

Really great movie; Good job CTV for making movies like this. Families need more movies they can watch together. This was perfect to watch with your teenagers...some real emotions were shown. I really didn't expect to watch the whole movie, but it really hooked me; I cried, laughed and was on the edge of my seat. It was very realistic, some great scenery of our West Coast. Loved the actors in it... Ryan McDonell especially, who played the older jerk of a brother, but had an emotional breakthrough in the end played his part so well. Would love to see him in a lead role soon! I would highly recommend this movie to anyone...I would love to see it again as well. I'll keep my eyes open for it.

Very good

[ericshotbabe003 · 10/10 · 29 May 2006]

This movie is so realistic in so many ways. You have to see it to understand. It makes you smile and cry. I loved it because it's not over-dramatic or too 'Hollywood'. Now I understand why my parents always worry when I drive somewhere at night. Teens, if your parents see this, expect them to be a little bit more cautious when you ask for the car...Kelly Rowan is an absolutely amazing actress. Words definitely can't describe. She's definitely an asset to making the plot realistic. The plot is also very strong, and a very good storyline with excellent actors. A definite must-see movie for anyone of any age. However, be prepared with a tissue box and, of course, your family.

Entertaining movie. Excellent acting (but 1 horrible acting dude)

[readerguy · 8/10 · 30 October 2010]

I enjoyed this movie even though it is very predictable from scene one. Kelly Rowan, who is beautiful, is excellent (really perfect) as the terrified, but determined mother. The other performances by the other family members were fine, but none really stood out in my mind. The story is well-paced and the Canadian scenery is superb as is usual in Lifetime movies (which I believe are generally underrated). One embarrassingly bad (almost comedic) role was turned in by Michael Eklund as Weaver, the bad dude in the movie. I thought his role, and his "acting," were totally unbelievable, way overacted. He looked like a poorly drawn comic book villain. Whoever cast him should get their hands slapped. Despite that, it was an entertaining movie and worth seeing. Based on an intriguing true story.

This sounds familiar

[juliebean444 · 24 May 2006]

When I was 18 I lived in a town called Parksville, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. I believe this movie is loosely based on an incident that occurred there with a young man who was on his way to a well known party location, Kaye Road gravel pit. He went missing on his way there when he drove his car off of an embankment. He did remain there for a week, but I can't recall how he was found, just that it was surprising he'd survived. I wonder if this is the same incident. Seems so ironic that something that occurred in such a small town would become a movie 16 years later. If anyone knows if this in fact the case, please let me know. I'm very interested to know.

Thanks! Juliebean.

Talk about a cliff hanger

[rustysheba · 10/10 · 30 May 2006]

I assume that everyone has seen this as it was shown on May 28th. I didn't plan on watching this made for TV Movie but am glad I did. It was great, truly it felt like we were watching the lives of normal people. What would you do if this happened to you? How could you live those 8 days? As a mom, I was glued to the TV. I couldn't miss a beat of this. When it came to the end and he was found I truly thought he was dead. But it was all so real to me and I was crying along with the mom. What a great story and to think this was true! The scenery of our West Coast was truly remarkable. I've seen some made for TV movies which show the coast, but this one was done very well. You truly felt the pain of the family seeing all the curves on those roads. A good movie for a Sunday Night. Keep up the good work, we need more of these and forget about the reality programs.

Second half was better

[vchimpanzee · 17 June 2008]

At the start of this fact-based story, a group of young people are racing on a curvy highway, with loud music playing. Someone sees cops, and the whole group scatters. 19-year-old Joe is not supposed to be driving (though that didn't stop him from racing).

Joe finds out he is getting his driver's license back. This is an opportunity to go to a party at his friend Evan's house. He will have to drive all night, but he promises to keep in touch and to return home by Monday. One problem: his girlfriend Patti, who he works with at a grocery store, wants him to spend the night while her parents are away. And not only does he gets a late start, Joe does leave his cell phone at Patti's house.

Our first clue something is wrong: Joe nearly hits a boy standing in the road. He gives the boy a ride, and then we don't hear anything from him for a while.

Joe's parents Teresa and Tim get a call in the middle of the night. Evan sounds high, but he knows Joe never showed up.

Teresa goes to the cops but they don't think it's time to declare Joe missing. After all, he said he'd be back Monday. Teresa then takes the day off work to go search for Joe; she does know he has an online friend Lucinda in a distant town called Chasm. Tim has been out of work, so when he gets a job interview, that has to take priority (he's not that worried yet). Joe's teenage sister Becca is pleased to get a day off from school, and she goes with her mother and provides comic relief. Joe's brother Will stays home in case there is any news.

Lucinda doesn't seem to know anything, but we get to see ominous flashbacks suggesting she knows more than she is telling.

Teresa and the family put up flyers and get the press involved. The police reluctantly start searching. We find out information about Joe very gradually (mostly through more ominous flashbacks), and so do those searching. If Joe is really lying beside the road, one person says he has eight days to live. So just in case, someone had better get to work.

At first, I wouldn't have said there was anything particularly distinctive about this movie. But as the search really gets under way, probably halfway through the movie, there is much more suspense and excitement.

Michael Eklund, who reminds me of a character Brad Pitt once played (at least I think that's right), gives the standout acting performance, though that's not really saying much. Weaver is a drug dealer and Lucinda's boyfriend; he seems pretty messed up.

The actors playing a couple of the cops are also quite good, at least for this movie. And while Kelly Rowan seems merely ordinary most of the time, I have to admit she had a couple of heartbreaking scenes. She must have called on a real tragedy or personal loss in her life.

There is one moment that isn't a sign of quality, but rather a familiar cliché. Anyone who hates the behavior of the press in these situations should be happy. One vulture, not worthy of being called a journalist, asks Will a completely inappropriate question. The man should get out of the news business and go into reality TV. Will's reaction is enjoyable.

This was satisfying, eventually.

Fine acting film

[geoffox-766-418467 · 11 February 2011]

I found this film very absorbing in its motive and writing. Whether based on facts or not, it was well done. Directed well by Norma Bailey whom I trust had a lot to do with the fine casting. Paced very well by writers, David Fraser, Peter Smith and Greg Spottiswood. Acting was exceptional with Kelly Rowan and Shawn Doyle as the parents of the boy who became missing. Doyle underplayed beautifully in support of Kelly Rowan who played the lead. I loved her acting but hated her hair. What woman on a rescue mission would travel with her too long hair covering her face. Realistically there is much underbrush, bad weather and such in the way and she's running around with these too long tresses for a woman of her age blowing in the wind. Annoyed me very much and took away from watching her. Even the daughter played by Tegan Moss, had the sense to have her hair pulled back out of her face. Both she and Ryan McDonell played the siblings of our young man, Dustin Milligan. They were excellent in the roles, well cast. Katherine Isabelle plays the floozy who misleads our hero. Not a very interesting role and not the greatest acting was needed. Just to look bored through it all, no heart, and she did that. Michael Eklund was her cohort in evil and overplayed a bit. But then, there are really people like that out there. My favorite in this, although they all were good, was Gwynyth Walsh as the helicopter pilot who broke the rules to help find the boy. I had seen her earlier in Her Only Child where she played an overbearing mother possessive of her only daughter. She played such a different role in that which definitely shows this actress's versatility. She was wonderful in a small role in this.