Badlands

In the late 1950s, 15-year-old Holly Sargis lives with her father, a sign painter, in the small town of Fort Dupree, South Dakota. Their relationship is strained due to the death of Holly's mother from pneumonia, which has left a lingering sadness in their lives.

Holly meets 25-year-old Kit Carruthers, a troubled garbage collector, who bears a striking resemblance to her favorite actor, James Dean. As she gets to know him, Holly finds herself captivated by his charm and rebellious attitude.

Holly's father disapproves of her relationship with Kit, leading to a tragic confrontation. In a fit of rage, he shoots Holly's beloved dog, which drives Kit to avenge Holly's suffering by killing her father.

After the murder of Holly's father, Kit and Holly concoct a plan to fake their deaths by burning down her house. This act propels them into a life on the run, away from their previous lives and towards the Montana badlands.

The couple establishes a makeshift home in a tree house in a secluded area where they live off the land, stealing food and fishing for weeks. Their idyllic existence is short-lived as they are soon discovered by bounty hunters.

As bounty hunters close in on them, Kit resorts to violence once again and kills three of them in a desperate bid for freedom. This incident solidifies their status as fugitives as they continue to flee.

In their journey, Kit and Holly seek refuge with Kit's friend Cato. However, mistrust brews, and as Cato tries to deceive them, Kit kills him, marking yet another violent turn in their lives.

An interstate APB is issued as law enforcement across the Midwest begins searching for Kit and Holly. Their notoriety escalates, as the police close in on their location while they attempt to evade capture.

While on the run, they stop at a wealthy man's mansion where they steal supplies and a Cadillac. Surprisingly, they spare the lives of both the man and his housemaid, showing a brief glimpse of humanity amidst their chaos.

As they drive through the badlands of Montana, Holly finds herself growing weary of Kit, leading to a rift between them. Despite this, Kit continues to dream about escaping to Canada and joining the Mounties.

During a stop at an oil rig, chaos ensues as a police helicopter spots them. In a moment of desperation, Kit shoots at the helicopter, killing a policeman, further sealing their fate as dangerous fugitives.

After witnessing the violence and chaos, Holly makes a critical decision and turns herself into the authorities, signaling a separation from Kit. She realizes that the life they led is unsustainable and chooses to face the consequences.

Kit, however, continues to evade the police in a high-speed chase but ultimately stops and allows himself to be apprehended. His actions transform him into a notorious figure as law enforcement recognizes his infamous reputation.

Confined in a local military base, Kit gains celebrity status among the soldiers, reporters, and police. This notoriety contrasts sharply with his violent past, drawing attention to the tragedy of their situation.

In the closing moments, Kit and Holly are flown away on a military plane to stand trial for their crimes. Their journey ends with a text revealing Kit's death penalty and Holly's probation, underscoring the different paths they will take.