The Harder They Fall

Rufus Buck and his outlaw gang visit the Love family during dinner, and Rufus recognizes Nat’s father. Rufus kills Eleanor Love and wounds her husband, and carves a cross into young Nat’s forehead as a symbol of his violent grudge. Nat screams in horror as he witnesses his parents’ deaths and Rufus’s departure.

Years later, Nat Love has become an outlaw himself, hunting violent criminals. He tracks down and kills Jesus Cortez after a stand-off at a church, demonstrating his ruthless approach to justice. He plans to collect the bounty on Cortez’s head and continues his dangerous path.

Nat’s gang members Bill Pickett and Jim Beckwourth ambush and rob the Crimson Hoods gang. They capture Monroe Grimes, who taunts them about Rufus Buck's impending release, revealing Rufus’s desire for revenge and control over the stolen money.

Nat visits the Redwood saloon operated by his former lover, Mary Fields. They share a kiss and reconcile, but their reunion is short-lived as Pickett rushes to inform Nat of the upcoming confrontations with Rufus Buck’s gang.

Rufus Buck is released from prison and his gang, led by Trudy Smith and Cherokee Bill, seizes control of the town. Rufus beats the town’s sheriff Wiley Escoe and reasserts his dominance by intimidating the residents and taking command of Redwood.

Marshal Bass Reeves intercepts Nat in Redwood, arresting him in a standoff. The arrest was part of a plan to allow Nat to go after Rufus Buck independently, but Mary and other gang members follow and join the confrontation regardless.

Mary goes into town alone to negotiate with Rufus but is captured. Trudy tells her a violent past story about her sister Hope, who was murdered by their father after an incident involving polio and bullying, illustrating her brutal background.

Nat and his gang infiltrate Redwood for a bank heist, going to Marysville and escaping with money. They narrowly evade the law, with some members disguising themselves and executing the plan quickly amidst a gunfight and chaos.

A fierce gunfight erupts between Nat’s gang and Rufus Buck’s gang. Cherokee Bill kills Jim Beckwourth, and the gangs suffer heavy casualties, including Cherokee himself being fatally shot. Wiley attempts a suicide bombing with dynamite, which leads to Wiley’s death.

Nat enters Rufus Buck’s hideout and learns the shocking truth: Rufus is his half-brother, both sons of the same abusive father. Rufus reveals he killed Nat’s parents to symbolize their shared connection. Nat kills Rufus in a moment of emotional turmoil.

Nat and his surviving allies bury their fallen comrades, including Jim and Pickett. To evade the law, they fake Nat’s death, with Reeves providing support. Cuffee decides to join law enforcement, while Nat and Mary ride off together, leaving the chaos behind.