Don Verdean
A fraudulent Biblical archaeologist turns a failed relic hunt into an increasingly elaborate scheme to preserve his reputation and satisfy a pastor's ambitions.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- deadpan
- awkward
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the religious satire and eccentric premise underdeveloped, resulting in an uneven and generally unsuccessful comedy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Don's fabricated sacred artifacts satisfy Pastor Fontaine's ambitions while turning faith and archaeology into marketable proof.
Don presents himself as a Biblical archaeologist, but his inability to find genuine relics drives the cover-up.
Don's attempt to conceal failure expands into a comic conspiracy involving fabricated artifacts and grave robbing.
The film's small-town religious setting and bizarre archaeological fraud are presented through Jared Hess's understated comic sensibility.
Films like Don Verdean, and why
Napoleon Dynamite
offbeat small-town comedy, eccentric characters, and awkward deadpan humor
Saved!
irreverent religious satire, comic deception, and ensemble absurdity
The Informant!
grifter-centered comedy, escalating lies, and surreal deadpan tone
Nacho Libre
eccentric outsider protagonist, broad comic situations, and distinctive ensemble performances
Movie Details
- Director
- Jared Hess
- Release Date
- 2015-12-01
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 4.9 / 10 (135)
Cast
- Sam Rockwell
- Jemaine Clement
- Amy Ryan
- Danny McBride
- Will Forte
- Leslie Bibb
- Steve Park
- Sky Elobar
- Yaniv Moyal
- P.J. Boudousqué
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Don Verdean about?
- A fraudulent Biblical archaeologist turns a failed relic hunt into an increasingly elaborate scheme to preserve his reputation and satisfy a pastor's ambitions.
- What is Don Verdean like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Don Verdean as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Don Verdean violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Don Verdean as mild.
- What did critics think of Don Verdean?
- Critics broadly found the religious satire and eccentric premise underdeveloped, resulting in an uneven and generally unsuccessful comedy.
- Which films are like Don Verdean?
- Films with a similar feel include Napoleon Dynamite, Saved!, The Informant!, and Nacho Libre.
- How long is Don Verdean?
- Don Verdean runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch Don Verdean?
- In United States, Don Verdean streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
