The Missing

The Missing

Year: 2003

Runtime: 137 min

Language: English

Director: Ron Howard

AdventureThrillerWestern

In the unforgiving vastness of the wilderness, a desperate quest unfolds as Maggie Gilkeson, a solitary mother, embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim her abducted daughter from a ruthless captor wielding mystical powers. With the help of her estranged father, Maggie must confront her own demons and face the darkness head-on in this gripping adventure thriller.

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The Missing (2003) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Read the complete plot breakdown of The Missing (2003), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Set against the backdrop of New Mexico in 1885, The Missing presents a gripping tale of estrangement and family ties. The story centers around Maggie Gilkeson, portrayed by Cate Blanchett, a tenacious prairie doctor striving to provide for her two daughters in a harsh, unforgiving landscape. Her world is upended when her estranged father, played by Tommy Lee Jones, unexpectedly reappears after two decades of living among the Indians—a choice he made long ago that left his family behind.

“You have to reunite with your family to save your life,” warns the medicine man after a dangerous rattlesnake incident that forces him to confront his past. Despite his desperate attempts to reconnect, Maggie harbors intense resentment towards him and promptly casts him out from her home.

However, chaos ensues when Maggie’s eldest daughter, Lilly, expertly brought to life by Evan Rachel Wood, is kidnapped by a ruthless group of renegade Indians. This band has already captured several young girls to sell into prostitution in Mexico. With no assistance from the sheriff and her heart broken with despair, Maggie realizes that she must reluctantly join forces with the very man she despises—her father. Together, they embark on a harrowing journey into the wilderness, united by the desperate need to rescue Lilly and heal the wounds of their fractured family.

Last Updated: October 28, 2024 at 08:27

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