Good One

Sam and her father Chris plan a weekend camping trip in the Catskills with Matt and his son Dylan. Dylan refuses to go, which unsettles Sam, who offers to talk to him but is rebuffed. The setup hints at tension in the family dynamics beneath the friendly banter.

On the road, Matt and Chris trade jokes while Sam dozes in the back seat. She wakes briefly when Chris asks her to respond to a text on his phone. The car ride establishes a mix of warmth and underlying strain among the travelers.

That night they share a single hotel room, with Sam sleeping on a floor mat while Chris and Matt take the beds. Dinner features light teasing—Matt questions Sam’s sexuality and Chris about his newborn at home with a second wife—skating over deeper tensions. The exchange foreshadows fragile relationships beneath the surface.

On the drive to the trailhead, Sam handles the wheel as Chris criticizes her driving. At the trail, Chris ribs Matt for packing too much, dumping his bag and pointing out unnecessary items. The early hike sets a mix of camaraderie and friction.

The hike offers moments of quiet appreciation of nature as Sam walks ahead. She repeatedly leaves the trail to change her tampon, illustrating how personal needs intrude on the trip. The group continues, adapting to her interruptions.

Mid-hike Matt realizes he forgot his sleeping bag in the car, and Chris mocks the oversight. Sam sends a text to her girlfriend once she has cell reception, reconnecting with someone back home. Tensions simmer beneath routine mishaps.

That night, three hikers set up camp near them. Sam wants them to move, but her father urges her to let it go. The hikers join around the fire, and Sam cooks ramen for Chris and Matt who praise her cooking.

During the second night around the fire, Matt tells a ‘spooky’ story about cheating on Dylan’s mom, prompting Sam to challenge his responsibility. She also voices disappointment about her father dating a new woman so soon after the divorce. The exchange tests their boundaries and mutual respect.

On day two the trio reaches a picturesque overlook and takes in the view. Sam takes on more responsibilities, dismantling tents and keeping the group organized. Matt jokes with Chris, while both men begin to recognize Sam’s steadiness.

That night the group shares scary stories again and Sam rebukes Matt for his past choices. Chris goes to bed while Matt and Sam tend the fire, with Matt praising her maturity. The moment ends with Sam retreating to sleep, uneasy with how the evening unfolded.

The next day Sam and Chris go swimming while Matt’s remarks linger. Sam tries to tell her father about what Matt said, but Chris brushes her off in favor of enjoying the day. She ends up crying alone, feeling betrayed by her family and friend.

Sam gathers rocks from the trail and places them in Chris and Matt’s packs. She hikes ahead and eventually drives back toward the car, leaving them behind. When Chris and Matt catch up, Sam unlocks the car and begins to drive; as a quiet farewell, Chris places a rock on the dashboard before they drive away.