The Bygone (2019)

When a young rancher crosses paths with a Lakota girl from a nearby reservation, her mysterious disappearance sparks a search that uncovers a harrowing past and hints at a dire future.

Directors:

Graham Phillips, Parker Phillips

Writers:

Graham Phillips, Parker Phillips

Stars:

Jacqueline Toboni, Shawn Hatosy, Graham Phillips

Cast

Credited cast:
Jacqueline Toboni	...	Jamie
Shawn Hatosy	...	Paris
Graham Phillips	...	Kip Summer
Jamie McShane	...	Hadley Summer
Ritchie Coster	...	Beckett Summer
Irene Bedard	...	Ms. Call
Tokala Black Elk	...	Bear
Jacob Ming-Trent	...	Dorian
Sydney Schafer	...	Waniya
Joe Hursley	...	Delmar
Erin Marie Garrett	...	Dancer
Jennifer Rader	...	The Scared Girl
Gregory Kelly	...	Hank
Mike McColl	...	Sheriff Everett Cole (as Michael McColl)
Kent Shelton	...	Man

Storyline

When a young rancher crosses paths with a Lakota girl from a nearby reservation, her mysterious disappearance sparks a search that uncovers a harrowing past and hints at a dire future.

---

Plot Keywords:

girl | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Kip Summer: [narrating] I remember an old Indian story my mom used to tell be before I went to sleep. About a shadow, that blanketed the land in darkness. I know it had a happy ending of some sort, but, all I can remember is the way it made me feel. Seemed like it could just swallow you up, the way she told it, like it was right around the corner. Never knew what it was she was talking about - at least I didn't user to.
Kip Summer: I always wondered if guys like Cassidy, Crocket, and Crazy Horse came rising...

---

Soundtracks

Air Traffic
Written by Lance Harvill
Performed by Harvill
Published by Tropnevada LLC (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Expressive Artists LLC

User Reviews

Sometimes I wonder if I watched the same movie

I know I cant have watched the same movie that got 9 and 10 star reviews. About the only positives I can come up with are at times it was visually pleasing, production values were good and it tackled the serious issue of human trafficking. That is literally where the positives end. The acting ranged from mediocre to terrible, the plot was beyond convoluted, the characters thrown together more to make points then to be part of a convincing story.

I'm not even sure how you mess up a human trafficking plot, but they managed to do it by trying to make it not about money, power and control, but some misguided feelings the trafficker was supposed to have for his victim. It is cringeworthy to the extreme. The setting, a dying west, is tired and largely meaningless other then as a canvas for the message of white sexploitation of Native American women. Yet by adding the element of affection? it completely dilutes the message. More so it does it in a completely unconvincing fashion.

As for execution. Each scene seems like an independent undertaking with nothing flowing together. All in all it fails to create a fabric and instead feels like boxes being checked off with completely undeveloped characters moving around like puppets. Violence is sprinkled on the concoction like an too many toppings on an overly sweet sundae.

Forget all the PC nonsense this is just a poorly made and executed movie with a bizarre end tacked on because, well, why not? Ultimately my rating is based on not only on how mediocre it was, but how I would never want to have to watch it again.

Details

Official Sites:

writer/director website

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bygone

Filming Locations:

Oklahoma, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1