Coming Home in the Dark

Alan 'Hoaggie' Hoaganraad, a school teacher, sets off on a family road trip with his wife Jill and their two teenage sons, Maika and Jordan. They are excited and optimistic, looking forward to creating cherished memories together.

While hiking, Maika notices two strange men in the distance who quickly disappear from sight. This unsettling moment raises suspicions but does not immediately affect the family's plans.

The family enjoys a peaceful roadside picnic until they are confronted by two dangerous drifters, Mandrake and Tubs. The criminals rob them at gunpoint, forcing the terrified family to lie on the ground.

In a horrific turn of events, Mandrake overhears Maika calling Alan 'Hoaggie' and retaliates by murdering both Maika and Jordan. The family’s nightmare escalates as they realize they are now targets.

Following the shocking murders, Mandrake and Tubs abduct Alan and Jill as night falls. In the ensuing struggle, Mandrake breaks Alan’s arm and knocks Jill unconscious, showcasing the dangerous situation they are in.

As they are held captive, Mandrake reveals that he knows about Alan's troubled past at a group home associated with abuse. Alan pleads his innocence, leading to a tense confrontation about the sins of the past.

During a stop at a gas station, Alan attempts to send a covert plea for help to the attendant. However, Mandrake sees through this desperate move and brutally murders the attendant, further illustrating the escalating violence.

In a moment of cleverness, Alan uses a nail to puncture one of the kidnappers' tires while pretending to recover from his injuries. This act of defiance demonstrates his determination to escape despite his physical condition.

In a moment of courage, Jill makes a daring attempt to escape from their captors. Sadly, she is quickly recaptured, reinforcing the dire stakes they are facing under the control of Mandrake and Tubs.

Under Mandrake's pressure, Alan is compelled to confess his alleged complicity in the abuse at the group home. He recounts a traumatic incident involving a boy with a forced tattoo, which deeply unsettles Jill and creates emotional distance between them.

With her life in jeopardy, Jill makes the bold choice to leap into a river rather than return to her captors. This decision showcases her desperate will to survive, even as it leaves her fate uncertain.

At a stop to fix the damaged tire, Alan manages a brief escape and attempts to flee with a group of teenagers. Unfortunately, Mandrake discovers him, resulting in another traumatic encounter that highlights the danger surrounding them.

The captors finally arrive at an old, dilapidated boarding school that holds significant memories for Mandrake and Tubs. The location becomes the site of tragic confrontations, forcing Alan to confront his painful past.

Within the confines of the school, Alan faces his past demons, acknowledging failures and dark truths. In a shocking twist, Mandrake reveals he is not the tattooed boy Alan once knew, intensifying the horror of the moment.

In a chaotic struggle, Mandrake shoots Alan in the chest, but Alan fights back fiercely, hitting Mandrake with a rock. Just as Mandrake seems ready to finish Alan off, Tubs unexpectedly shoots Mandrake, closing this violent chapter with a poignant moment of reflection.