Morning 2013

Stephen Holden, New York Times: One of the more harrowing explorations of grief ever brought to the screen. By the end of its 95 minutes, only a faint ray of light has penetrated the gloom. Read more

Sara Stewart, New York Post: It often seems like an acting workshop: Behave as if you are the parent of a dead child. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: Mr. Orser is a director worth watching. His work behind the camera-as well as in front of it-is clean and direct, unsentimental almost to the point of austerity. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: An initially intriguing but ultimately exhausting tale of grieving parents left quite literally dazed and confused in the wake of their young son's death. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: Leland Orser makes a raw, soul-searching feature debut as writer, director and star in "Morning." He plays the devastated father opposite his real-life wife, Jeanne Tripplehorn. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: The effort here counts for something, but the emotions may be just too much. Read more

David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle: Orser, to his credit, never resorts to psychobabble, cheap sentiment or emotional shortcuts. Read more

Andrew Frisicano, Time Out: As an exercise in grief, Orser's drama is affecting, exhausting and something of a shortcut ... Read more