A Single Shot

In the wake of his wife’s departure with their son, John Moon (Jeffrey Wright) finds himself trapped in a bleak existence on his family’s rural West Virginia farm, a property dwindling to memories after his father sold it off. Surrounded by the echoes of what once was, John struggles daily, hunting deer just to survive, each kill a stark reminder of his devastating reality.

His life takes a sinister turn while illegally pursuing game on Nature Conservancy land, where he unintentionally ends the life of a young woman. As he grapples with the weight of his actions, he discovers a mysterious box filled with $100,000 in an abandoned van—where the girl had sought refuge. In a moment of panic, John hides her body in a shipping container, hoping to erase the evidence of his crime.

In the midst of chaos, John’s heart yearns for the chance to reconnect with his estranged wife. He seeks the help of a local attorney, offering several hundred dollars as a gesture of sincerity in hopes of negotiating the return of their son. But this act only arouses suspicion, drawing unwanted attention instead of the reconciliation he desires.

A visit to his wife’s apartment turns tense as John interrupts a questionable situation involving the babysitter and a recently paroled convict. His mere presence stirs unease, leading him to leave but not before crossing paths with a hostile stranger who seems to take issue with him.

John arrives back at his trailer to find it ransacked, the search for the hidden fortune leaving chaos in its wake. To his dismay, he discovers the body of the dead girl on his bed, paired with a chilling note that feels as if it’s penned from the grave. His estranged wife arrives shortly after, attempting to collect her belongings, but John’s grief-stricken heart rejects her entry, caught in the turmoil of his actions.

In his quest for answers, John makes a desperate visit to the attorney, brandishing a pistol in a bid to unveil the truth. Yet, he only learns that his wife is growing increasingly anxious about his sudden wealth and wishes to communicate with him. The days that follow unveil an ominous spiral of events surrounding John’s life. A rock crashes through his window, baring a threatening note, followed by the senseless death of his devoted dog—evidence of a vendetta aimed at him and his family.

John’s instincts lead him towards the motel room where the ex-con might be hiding, but his mission leads him face to face with the very stranger who previously threatened him. The interaction quickly reveals a sinister truth—that the woman who possessed the money is dead. What follows is a horrific act of violence as John watches the stranger execute the ex-con, a scene of brutality that he narrowly escapes.

When John returns home, paranoia sets in as he feels the weight of unseen eyes upon him, with shadows suffocating his already dark existence. One fateful moment, as he relishes a kind gesture from a local girl, Emily (Kelly Reilly), the atmosphere of relative calm is shattered by a distressed radio and a piercing scream outside his trailer. Rushing outside, he is faced with a terrifying reality: the stranger has taken hold of the unsuspecting girl, leaving John with no options but to yield to the malefactor’s demands.

The stranger delivers a horrific wound, mangling John’s right index finger and thumb—a stark reminder of the fragility of his situation. With his ability to defend himself greatly diminished, John retrieves a scoped rifle from his truck, determined to reclaim his life despite the adversity. The encounter culminates in a deadly showdown, with John’s resolve hardening as he faces the stranger, knowing that only one will survive.

After the violent confrontation, John helps the shaken Emily return to town, only to face an even grimder discovery upon returning home—a shed concealing the body of the deceased woman. Overwhelmed with grief and blood loss, John drags her body up the hill, digging a grave with trembling hands. In a moment of despair and reflection, he lays Emily’s lifeless form to rest beside the woman, only to glance up and meet the serene gaze of a majestic deer—a poignant reminder that even amidst death, not all is lost to the darkness that humanity sometimes brings.

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:28