Crossfire Trail

Crossfire Trail

Year: 2001

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Simon Wincer

DramaRomanceWesternTV MovieThriller

A hero is measured by the enemies he makes. Rafe Covington lives by his word, promising a dying rancher to protect his widow and Wyoming homestead. The widow deeply distrusts the drifter, while a grabber and his guns circle the ranch like a spider stalking a fly. Covington must face ruthless aggressors to firmly keep his promise in this landscape.

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Timeline & Setting – Crossfire Trail (2001)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Crossfire Trail (2001). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1880

The events take place in the early 1880s, during the height of the American West ranching era. Law and order clash with vigilante impulses in a frontier town where wealth and property define power. Duels, gunfights, and rapid violence reflect the rough rhythm of frontier life. The period detail underscores a world where personal honor often trumps formal justice.

Location

Wyoming, United States

Crossfire Trail unfolds across a Wyoming ranch and the surrounding frontier towns. The rugged Wyoming landscape—high plains and the nearby Rockies—frames the trek, cattle drives, and rebuilding efforts. Isolated settings heighten the sense of danger as residents defend homesteads or vie for control. The harsh climate and vast terrain symbolize the challenges of building a life in the West.

🏜️ Western frontier 🐎 Ranch life 🏔️ Rocky Mountains

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:35

Main Characters – Crossfire Trail (2001)

Meet the key characters of Crossfire Trail (2001), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Rafe Covington (Tom Selleck)

A stoic, honorable drifter who vows to protect the late Charles Rodney's wife and Wyoming ranch. He takes decisive action to avenge Rodney, restore the homestead, and stand up to Barkow, while remaining loyal to his friends. His leadership and shooting skill are central to defending the land against greed.

🧭 Loyal 🗡️ Gunfighter 🛡️ Protector

Anne Rodney (Virginia Madsen)

Rodney's widow, initially skeptical of Covington's tale and wary of Barkow's advances. She is torn between fear and hope as she fights to preserve Rodney's legacy and her own independence. Over time she believes Covington and becomes a key ally in defending the ranch.

🤍 Skeptical 🧭 Determined 🗝️ Protectiveness

Bruce Barkow (Mark Harmon)

Wealthy, unscrupulous town leader who covets the ranch and uses his influence to thwart Covington. He manipulates Anne, orchestrates threats, and pays for violence to gain control, embodying frontier greed and authority corrupted by power.

🤑 Greedy 🗡️ Ruthless 🧠 Cunning

Joe Gill (Wilford Brimley)

An elderly cowboy and Rodney's friend who supports Covington and vouches for his story. He acts as a stable, steady voice in the chaos, helping to ground the group and the pursuit of justice on the ranch.

🧭 Loyal 🫶 Wise 🪶 Steady

Rock Mullaney (David O'Hara)

A steadfast ally of Covington, he joins the trek to Wyoming and helps rebuild the ranch. Rock's loyalty and practical know-how make him essential in fending off Barkow's schemes and defending their shared home.

🤝 Loyal 🪖 Reliable 🗡️ Fighter

J.T. Langston (Christian Kane)

A trusted member of Covington's group who rides into town and into danger. J.T. is brave, quick to act, and deeply loyal, willing to risk his life to defend the ranch and his friends.

🧭 Loyal 🗡️ Quick-tempered 🏇 Courageous

Mike Taggart (Patrick Kilpatrick)

A hot-headed antagonist drawn into Barkow's plots. He embodies reckless frontier bravado and poses a direct threat to Covington and the group with violence and intimidation.

🔥 Aggressive 🗡️ Violent 🪄 Impulsive

Luke Taggart (Rex Linn)

One of Barkow's cohorts, a brutal enforcer who helps implement the villain's plan. Luke's actions escalate the danger faced by Covington and his allies.

🗡️ Enforcer 🧭 Ambitious 💥 Violent

Snake Corville (Marshall R. Teague)

A menacing figure aligned with Barkow who plays a role in the violence surrounding the ranch conflict. Snake is a ruthless opportunist who adds to the danger of Covington's mission.

🗡️ Cutthroat 🧭 Opportunistic 🏹 Dangerous

Sheriff Walter Moncrief (Barry Corbin)

The town's sheriff whose authority is compromised by Barkow and fear. He illustrates the difficulty of upholding the law when power and corruption loom large.

⚖️ Corrupted 🛡️ Lawman 🏛️ Bureaucratic

Beau Dorn (Brad Johnson)

A feared gunfighter hired by Barkow to kill Covington and his friends. Dorn is a formidable antagonist whose arrival heightens the stakes and culminates in a dramatic showdown.

🗡️ Deadly 🧠 Cunning 🧭 Charismatic

Gene Thompson (Ken Pogue)

A veteran ranch hand who appears in town as part of the frontier community. His actions and reactions illustrate the rough, survival-centric mindset of the era.

🧭 Veteran 🛡️ Steady 🗡️ Practical

Taggart Gang

A group of outlaws aligned with Barkow who contribute to the escalating danger around the ranch.

🗡️ Outlaws 🧭 Violent 🧨 Threatening

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:35

Major Themes – Crossfire Trail (2001)

Explore the central themes of Crossfire Trail (2001), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Frontier Justice

Justice in Crossfire Trail is shaped by personal codes and violence as much as by law. Covington seeks to defend Rodney's legacy and Anne, challenging Barkow's control over the town and the ranch. The story culminates in a climactic gunfight that decides who will govern the land. The frontier blends formal authority with vigilantism, raising questions about what true justice looks like.

🤝 Loyalty

Covington, Rock, J.T., and Gill form a tight-knit group, risking life to restore the ranch and protect Anne. Trust is tested as betrayals and ambushes threaten their safety. Anne's growing belief in Covington marks a shift from doubt to alliance, reinforcing the bond between them. The loyalty of friends and lovers becomes a driving force behind the choices that determine the ranch's future.

💰 Greed

The discovery of petroleum on the property turns the ranch into a valuable prize. Barkow uses wealth and power to manipulate others and push Covington off the land. The oil boom intensifies violence, shaping motives and escalating the feud with Rafe and his allies. Greed ultimately exposes the fragility of frontier civilization and catalyzes the film's showdown.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:35

Unlock the Full Story of Crossfire Trail

Don't stop at just watching — explore Crossfire Trail in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Crossfire Trail is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Crossfire Trail Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Crossfire Trail, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Crossfire Trail Summary

Crossfire Trail Timeline

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Crossfire Trail Timeline

More About Crossfire Trail

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