The Rider (2017)

After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

Director:

Chloé Zhao

Writer:

Chloé Zhao

Stars:

Brady Jandreau, Mooney, Tim Jandreau

24 wins & 40 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brady Jandreau	...	Brady Blackburn
Mooney	...	Gus
Tim Jandreau	...	Wayne Blackburn
Lilly Jandreau	...	Lilly Blackburn
Leroy Pourier	...	Frank
Cat Clifford	...	Cat Clifford
Tanner Langdeau	...	Tanner Langdeau
James Calhoon	...	James Calhoon
Lane Scott	...	Lane Scott
Cameron Wright	...	Rodeo Cowboy #1
Jordon Slick Phelps	...	Rodeo Cowboy #2
Donnie Whirlwind Horse	...	Rodeo Cowboy #3
Terri Dawn Pourier	...	Terri Dawn (as Terri Dawn Landreau)
Allen Reddy	...	Bill (as Alan Reddy)
Greg Barber	...	Bar Owner

Storyline

Brady Blackburn, a rodeo bronc rider with some renown, learned everything he knows about horses and riding from his parents, Wayne and the now deceased Mari Blackburn. Brady is recovering from a fall off a bronking horse in a rodeo, the most serious of the injuries being a skull fracture which required a metal plate being inserted into his head. Including checking himself out of the hospital earlier than advised, Brady is determined to get back up onto the literal and proverbial horse as quickly as possible as being a cowboy is all he knows. But deep in his heart he knows that returning to the rodeo in particular is something that is probably not in the cards without increased risks, which is eventually confirmed by his doctor who tells him that he cannot sustain another serious head injury without some major consequence. He does not even want his friends and family to treat him with kid gloves in being able to do any of those physical activities which are part and parcel for him of ...

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Plot Keywords:

autism | cowboy | riding accident | head injury | life changing injury | 

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Altitude Film Entertainment [United Kingdom] Official Facebook [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Rider

Filming Locations:

Badlands, South Dakota, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$42,244, 15 April 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,419,031, 13 December 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caviar, Highwayman Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character Brady Blackburn is based on actor Brady Jandreau, who suffered the kind of head injury shown in the film after a fall from a horse.

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Quotes

Brady Blackburn: If any animal around here got hurt like I did, they'd have to be put down

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Connections

References Sesame Street (1969)

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Soundtracks

Medicine Man
Performed by The Quaker City Night Hawks (as Quaker City Night Hawks)
Written by Ryan David Matsler
Courtesy of Lightning Rod Records
By arrangement with Terrorbird Media

User Reviews

A truly great movie that brought me to tears

I love big budget blockbusters like Black Panther and Infinity Wars but there is a special place in my heart for the little guy with the little film with a little budget that can still bring the story home. I do not usually like sad stories. I firmly believe that movies should first entertain and then teach a lesson just like the best children's story. This is sometimes painful to watch but you have to root for Brady Blackburn. The shots of the Badlands are spectacular, the emotion heartfelt and the filmmaker's vision realized.