I watched this movie in an effort to join in on comments at another site just for fun and got hooked instead. Like Roman J. Israel, Esq., starring Denzel Washington playing a legal savant with little else in the brain going for him, this movie reflects on the ranges of savants, from one too dim to be grown up, and one, the stenographer, too tried of injustice to allow it anymore. The story then delves into the ranges of vigilantism. When does it go too far? Is it always too far? But, the movie delivers this story with a lighthearted approach almost to the point of campiness, but managed to avoid it and give us a very satisfying ending. After the ending, have a discussion about how far you might be willing to go or would be willing to turn your head from or even condone. Well done.
16 Reviews
Strong lead performance from Emile Hirsch
dubond14 December 2023
"No one gives a damn. Why should you?"
Walden is directed by Mick Davis and stars Emile Hirsch, Shane West, Kelli Garner and Tania Raymonde.
When small town court stenographer Walden Dean discovers he has a terminal illness he decides to become a vigilante to punish the people who deserve it. Emile Hirsch gives one of his best performances here as what I could only explain as "Dexter if he was on the spectrum." Seriously he really sold this role. His performance might come across as grating to some but I thought it worked for this movie.
Overall this movie isn't great but for a DTV thriller this was engaging to watch and competently made. The ending also sets up a sequel which I would be down to see.
Walden is directed by Mick Davis and stars Emile Hirsch, Shane West, Kelli Garner and Tania Raymonde.
When small town court stenographer Walden Dean discovers he has a terminal illness he decides to become a vigilante to punish the people who deserve it. Emile Hirsch gives one of his best performances here as what I could only explain as "Dexter if he was on the spectrum." Seriously he really sold this role. His performance might come across as grating to some but I thought it worked for this movie.
Overall this movie isn't great but for a DTV thriller this was engaging to watch and competently made. The ending also sets up a sequel which I would be down to see.
Meant for tv?
benday-8842523 December 2023
I feel like the pacing and writing was massively meant for television. It was good film but but protracted at points and then wrapped up too quickly. It felt it had threads to unwrap but none of them did in a one hour and forty minute film. Acting was great and production very good but it did, at times, feel like a television series.
Main guy camps up the main role but presumably on purpose to make it feel less droll with the subject matter in hand which at times is as dark as it gets.
Enjoyed this but interested to know if it was meant instalments which might mean more films or a spin off series.
Main guy camps up the main role but presumably on purpose to make it feel less droll with the subject matter in hand which at times is as dark as it gets.
Enjoyed this but interested to know if it was meant instalments which might mean more films or a spin off series.
Not the best but pretty good
robNbanks626 December 2023
It took me awhile to get into this movie but once I did I guess I kinda enjoyed it a little bit. Emile hirsch was great and really was what kept the whole movie watchable . It really had strong B movie vibes and some of the acting was mediocre at best however it was really fun watching the whole story play out and I really loved Emile hirsch like I said he was funny and good but the other actors weren't really that good even the judge wasn't that good but Emile hirsch was good if you're a Emile hirsch fan I would say watch it but if you aren't I'd say go ahead and skip it cause he's the only thing that kept it together.
Child killing...
kel-3163613 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I wish I had known going into this that there was going to be a graphically re-enacted child killing.
That aside, the movie was really good, really well done, good pace, well acted, well lit, perfect sound, all you could ask for in an original film.
Walden, played by Emile Hirsch, has bits of old themes (cherry picking), but an original overview.
The ending seemed to come a little too easy, but was satisfying none the less.
I, personally, see Emile Hirsch as this generations Jack Black. He's funny, versatile, handsome, and capable.
All in all, I would watch this movie again, even recommend it to others, but skip over the graphic scene. It's the kind of thing that sticks with you.
That aside, the movie was really good, really well done, good pace, well acted, well lit, perfect sound, all you could ask for in an original film.
Walden, played by Emile Hirsch, has bits of old themes (cherry picking), but an original overview.
The ending seemed to come a little too easy, but was satisfying none the less.
I, personally, see Emile Hirsch as this generations Jack Black. He's funny, versatile, handsome, and capable.
All in all, I would watch this movie again, even recommend it to others, but skip over the graphic scene. It's the kind of thing that sticks with you.
Lifetime movie with a little violence
MichaelD8316 December 2023
Other than realising that Tania Raymonde is the girl I used to think was hot as a kid watching in Malcom in the Middle and seeing that she's grew up to be extremely hot now, it was the terrible writing and direction that kept me watching this nonsense. Its not one of those so bad its good movies but rather so bad I felt too numb to be bothered to switch it off.
The plot makes no sense, the main crime that drives the latter part of the movie comes out of nowhere and the whole process of figuring out and who did it, along with who actually did it, is ridiculous. Think of the worse episode of columbo, there's one or two stinkers, and then imagine it was 10,000 times worse and then imagine a writer and director of lifetime movies decided to remake it and then you have this nonsense.
The acting is almost as terrible as the writing but not quite, everyone does seem to be putting an effort into what they're doing especially Emile but unfortunately its effort for nothing.
The music swells in places that the director thinks are far more dramatic than they are which is actually kind of funny.
Emile.....what are you doing? I hope you start getting roles again....what a waste.
The plot makes no sense, the main crime that drives the latter part of the movie comes out of nowhere and the whole process of figuring out and who did it, along with who actually did it, is ridiculous. Think of the worse episode of columbo, there's one or two stinkers, and then imagine it was 10,000 times worse and then imagine a writer and director of lifetime movies decided to remake it and then you have this nonsense.
The acting is almost as terrible as the writing but not quite, everyone does seem to be putting an effort into what they're doing especially Emile but unfortunately its effort for nothing.
The music swells in places that the director thinks are far more dramatic than they are which is actually kind of funny.
Emile.....what are you doing? I hope you start getting roles again....what a waste.
Another wasted opportunity...
Sancler27 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I've never considered Emile Hirsch to be a great actor, but at least he's alright. I read other reviews on here commending his performance in this, but I guess we must've watched an entirely different movie. To me, his role was simply excrutiaring to watch. Admittedly not entirely his fault, but still it was mostly him who made this movie look like a parody. I thought I was watching a horror comedy. There's also a lot of ridiculousness. When Walden takes revenge on his first purp/vic, without spoiling too much, it appears no one has ever heard of fingerprints in this town (or simply didn't care about solving this murder). Later on, he starts gunning down people as if it were nothing. After which there seems to have been no ballistics done whatsoever. The main antagonist finally admits to countless of heinous acts. He got made due to a minor ''mistake'' (which he could've easily denied by the way, but whatever). This little mistake seemed to annoy him, yet he had numerous of bodies (skeletons) put on display, posed in chairs (that somehow no one had ever come across, even by smell, in such a very small town), for no apparent reason other than shock value for us viewers.
It's a real shame though, I mean, how many times do we actually get to see a movie about steno? It's another wasted opportunity.
It's a real shame though, I mean, how many times do we actually get to see a movie about steno? It's another wasted opportunity.
Amateur hour
gfrancis014 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The entire movie is an extremely underwhelming story about a very meek court stenographer. Not really anything impressive, here is a list of SOME of the major problems, not extensive by any means. The writing seems like it was someone's first screenplay, especially the dialog, really stiff. The characters and relationships are a joke, not sure what Hirsch is going for with his portrayal. It appeared to me that several of the minor roles were played by people on their first acting job. After brain tumor surgery he still has all his hair and an ace bandage wrapped around his head twice, that's it? That is some soap opera level lameness. Every single drink in this movie is warm liquor in a glass. The oven revenge killing has a guy literally holding his own head down on the burner inside the oven, they couldn't even be bothered to make it look like he was restrained somehow. Walkden has a bunch of file boxes in his house labeled Guilty and Not Guilty that he just tosses his stenographer tapes into, what? They would be filed by case number, not just tossed in a box. This film is at the level of a high school project, don't waste your time.
REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT 💥
bronascullion26 December 2023
I gotta say, when I started watching this I wasn't convinced... but 10/15 mins in ...I was starting to get it ....It is very quirky, and darkly funny with a good story and kept me guessing for most of it ......I personally REALLY enjoyed this movie .....it is refreshingly different from the same sh@t different day, run of the mill Marvel/ Super Hero/ blowing stuff up etc movies, that we are being force fed at the minute ..... I would absolutely recommend Walden to anyone with a sense of humour. If you like quirky, dark comedies and are looking for something different, this is for you. Enjoy guys 👌 👍
Thoreau Would Like A Word
willard-8453414 January 2024
No idea why they decided to call this Walden, but like the rest of the movie, it makes about as much sense. First, Emile Hirsch is a fine actor, and I was surprised that he showed up in what appears to be a low-budget thriller, where he as adopted an autistic Truman Capote accent. This is Room-level bad across the board. The plot, a Dexter rip-off, makes no sense whatsoever. The other actor all seem to think they are the main character in another movie. Even the crimes themselves have no basis in reality and as even a simple detective/procedural drama, whatever is holding the cast together is paper thin. The Room made more sense and at least had the decency to be "so bad it's good." Pass on this.
Hidden gem
georgio-2649016 March 2024
This will go down in years to come as a cult classic.
Characters in this film are nothing short of wonderful.
The acting is spot on, a lovely storyline of revenge and honesty.
A soft hearted Court reporter gets fed up with seeing bad guys go free and takes it upon himself to deal out a bit of self justice, then his friend gets wrongly accused of an evil crime so he goes after the real perpetrator.....
At first I thought it was a comedic affair, but it turns out to be a unique quirky thriller with a twist or two.
Well worth a watch , I cannot understand the poor reviews. I loved it from start to end.
Characters in this film are nothing short of wonderful.
The acting is spot on, a lovely storyline of revenge and honesty.
A soft hearted Court reporter gets fed up with seeing bad guys go free and takes it upon himself to deal out a bit of self justice, then his friend gets wrongly accused of an evil crime so he goes after the real perpetrator.....
At first I thought it was a comedic affair, but it turns out to be a unique quirky thriller with a twist or two.
Well worth a watch , I cannot understand the poor reviews. I loved it from start to end.
What a chance of a lifetime
spegaljulie8 January 2024
What an amazing performance. Rented it on Amazon prime and watched it several times, couldn't help myself. I now want to read the book and compare the movie with the book. I so recommend this movie to adults, certainly not appropriate for children. It is in depth detail of what a stenographer goes through trying to catch a child pedophile. I was so moved by this performance and have not felt so strong about a movie in a long time. In no circumstances will you get bored or want to get away from whatever device you decide to watch it on. Be prepared to sit still for the thrill you do not see transpiring.
A really good film
latinfineart10 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I live in a world where I often dream about being a vigilante. I sometimes wonder if an opportunity will ever come along, where I can eliminate really bad monsters, who prey on humanity. Especially children, there's never any excuse for that kind of behavior on any level, so when a film like this comes along I find it very refreshing.
I never was a huge fan of Emile Hirsch, though he is a good actor. I consider this to be a truly outstanding performance, he really nailed the nuance, he was able to build a really fascinating and believable character, who was quirky. The script was funny and smart, but at the same time sincere and compassionate.
I really enjoy this film well beyond what I expected going into it. I highly recommend this film for people who don't take themselves too seriously, and understand the potential value of setting limits, and crossing the line if that line needs to be crossed.
I never was a huge fan of Emile Hirsch, though he is a good actor. I consider this to be a truly outstanding performance, he really nailed the nuance, he was able to build a really fascinating and believable character, who was quirky. The script was funny and smart, but at the same time sincere and compassionate.
I really enjoy this film well beyond what I expected going into it. I highly recommend this film for people who don't take themselves too seriously, and understand the potential value of setting limits, and crossing the line if that line needs to be crossed.
a film like...
ops-5253517 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This hasnt been made in a lifetime plus a three quater lifetime , which means that were back to the 1880's and the start of lifemotionfilmmaking, and among 600000 and 1000000 feature movie titles hasnt thought about this ghost rider or writer of the criminal courts as a film subject...
its a superquirky film that is meant to be that, emile hirsch deserves an oscar for his superhumanfriendly court reporter, that does the deeds that the courts nor the prosecuters or the investgative squads cant. Its a devilish thought that even the blindest of peaky blinders would suckle on ...
i must also mention the casting crews efforts to find durable and quirky figures for each part of this drama, i started to think, are they using cgi?, at moments...
its not a perfect film productionwise, with many loose strains and soforth and ''walden'' wouldve loved the tv-series format for it to become as near full perfection as possible, but theyve done a great job within the limits of time that movieviewers like to watch.
So watch walden for what it is...a real revenge for all the good people out there, the grumpy old man recommends.
its a superquirky film that is meant to be that, emile hirsch deserves an oscar for his superhumanfriendly court reporter, that does the deeds that the courts nor the prosecuters or the investgative squads cant. Its a devilish thought that even the blindest of peaky blinders would suckle on ...
i must also mention the casting crews efforts to find durable and quirky figures for each part of this drama, i started to think, are they using cgi?, at moments...
its not a perfect film productionwise, with many loose strains and soforth and ''walden'' wouldve loved the tv-series format for it to become as near full perfection as possible, but theyve done a great job within the limits of time that movieviewers like to watch.
So watch walden for what it is...a real revenge for all the good people out there, the grumpy old man recommends.
Dexter 2.0
naijshua-627-9722166 February 2024
I could easily see this being a series. Yes it's like AB movie but the character is great the situation is ideal and always do the right thing.
If you don't know the system has always been failing us and it will continue to do so because it's not designed to be for us. Walden is when we take over the system and I'm not just a fine killing people but some people gotta go for the betterment of everyon.
Doesn't have to be that way but they won't conform anyhow it's a great film I enjoyed it it did take a couple of attempts to watch it thoroughly but the end result was great and that's what I care about if I had to compare it to something I would say it's like a 1980s phone booth and both movies have a great ending.
Know They Enemy.
If you don't know the system has always been failing us and it will continue to do so because it's not designed to be for us. Walden is when we take over the system and I'm not just a fine killing people but some people gotta go for the betterment of everyon.
Doesn't have to be that way but they won't conform anyhow it's a great film I enjoyed it it did take a couple of attempts to watch it thoroughly but the end result was great and that's what I care about if I had to compare it to something I would say it's like a 1980s phone booth and both movies have a great ending.
Know They Enemy.
why
nangda5 March 2024
This movie had so much potential but it was like a long form version of a bad episode of a crime procedural.
Why the coloring? Why is the movie filtered so strangely lol Did anyone involved in this movie look into court reporting or talk to any real life court reporters? 360wpm is way, way faster than they read in the movie, The steno machine has a stand and there's a proper way to sit at it. It's not propped on a table. And steno notes DO have to be stored, by law, for a certain period of time. But I guess they would've had to write something more clever /talk to the extras who played court reporters if they'd done the research.
This movie could've been interesting AND informed the public about the court reporting profession, but it just played pretend and also fell flat in so many areas of the story.
Why the coloring? Why is the movie filtered so strangely lol Did anyone involved in this movie look into court reporting or talk to any real life court reporters? 360wpm is way, way faster than they read in the movie, The steno machine has a stand and there's a proper way to sit at it. It's not propped on a table. And steno notes DO have to be stored, by law, for a certain period of time. But I guess they would've had to write something more clever /talk to the extras who played court reporters if they'd done the research.
This movie could've been interesting AND informed the public about the court reporting profession, but it just played pretend and also fell flat in so many areas of the story.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
