The Death of Dick Long

The film kicks off with a trio of friends, Dick Long, Zeke Olsen (played by Michael Abbott Jr.), and Earl Wyeth (portrayed by Andre Hyland), indulging in a wild night filled with loud rock music, pranks, and fireworks. However, the festive atmosphere quickly takes a dark turn when Dick suffers severe injuries and is unceremoniously dumped at an emergency room by his friends, leaving the circumstances of his injuries shrouded in mystery.

After this harrowing event, Earl returns home, gathering his belongings and telling his casual love interest Lake (played by Sunita Mani) that he must leave town due to a family emergency. However, instead of leaving immediately, he decides to fulfill a brief shift at his warehouse job.

Meanwhile, Zeke manages to sneak into bed, trying to con his wife Lydia (played by Virginia Newcomb) into believing he’s been asleep all night. She requests that he drive their daughter Cynthia (portrayed by Poppy Cunningham) to school, to which he agrees. As Lydia asks for some cash, Zeke inadvertently pulls out Dick’s wallet, which they had taken when they found him unconscious. He places Dick’s driver’s license on the counter while hastily ushering Cynthia to the garage, where he realizes the back seat is stained with blood. Panic sets in as he covers it with a sheet.

The plot thickens when Dr. Richter (played by Roy Wood Jr.) discovers Dick’s lifeless body outside the hospital where he works, and immediately contacts the local police. He reports that Dick has died from severe rectal hemorrhaging, indicating a potential sex crime, which raises alarms.

A chance encounter at a gas station sees Cynthia engaging with Officer Dudley (played by Sarah Baker), innocently mentioning her father’s found wallet. Meanwhile, Zeke is alarmed to see the blood has seeped through to Cynthia’s dress, prompting him to rush inside to prevent the officer from noticing anything amiss.

In a desperate bid to cover their tracks, Zeke calls Earl for an urgent meeting at his house, where they attempt to clean the blood from the back seat of the truck. Earl then drives Cynthia to school, crossing paths with Jane (played by Jess Weixler), Dick’s widow, who remains oblivious to her husband’s tragic fate. Their plan spirals into further deceit as they decide to dispose of the evidence in a river, concocting a story that their vehicle was stolen.

Back at the police station, Sheriff Spenser (played by Janelle Cochrane) and Officer Dudley start investigating the murder. As rumors of a homicide circulate, Lydia becomes anxious and calls Zeke, leading to a brief and evasive interrogation by the police.

When confronted about the inconsistencies during his interrogation, Zeke finally breaks down and reveals to Lydia that Dick has died, shocking her to the core. As the truth unravels, Zeke reveals their shocking past, including the involvement in zoophilic acts that ultimately led to Dick’s demise at the hands of their horse, Comet. Disgusted, Lydia demands he leave.

In disarray, Zeke heads to a local bar to meet Earl, deciding that running away is not an option. Meanwhile, Dudley and Spenser agree to inform Jane of her husband’s fate.

Their actions lead to a dramatic confrontation at Jane’s stables, where the situation escalates. In an emotional frenzy, Zeke rushes to release Comet, but faces arrest by Dudley, leaving a spiral of chaos in their wake.

The following morning, as the investigation unfolds, Dudley learns that Zeke has been released, which puzzles her. Zeke finds solace at his daughter’s school, only to be confronted by Lydia, who firmly tells him to stay out of their lives.

As night falls, Zeke ends up at a motel where he meets Earl and Lake. The three grapple with their complicated lie and ponder the uncertain future ahead, while Earl strums a guitar, playing “How You Remind Me”, encapsulating the turmoil that lies ahead for them all.

Last Updated: November 04, 2024 at 00:09