Year: 2016
Runtime: 98 min
Language: English
Director: Timothy Woodward Jr.
A rancher's peaceful existence is shattered when his daughter goes missing, sending him on a dangerous journey for justice across the frontier. Clay Travis embarks on a quest for revenge, teaming up with the hardened Billy as they face perilous situations in towns such as Wichita and Dodge City. Their pursuit of retribution unleashes a wave of violence, forcing them to confront the brutal realities of the lawless territories and the high cost of seeking retribution.
Get a spoiler-free look at Traded (2016) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the unforgiving expanses of the Kansas frontier, the world feels both vast and claustrophobic, a landscape where lawlessness flickers like a dying campfire and every dusty trail whispers of untold hardship. The film paints the West with a stark, almost lyrical realism—sun‑baked plains that hide shadows of desperation, towns where the promise of civilization fights a losing battle against raw survival. The atmosphere is heavy with grief and muted hope, inviting the audience to feel the tension that knots the air in every saloon doorway and open prairie.
Clay Travis carries the weight of a once‑renowned gunslinger now settled into a fragile ranch life, his reputation lingering like an old scar. Beneath his grizzled exterior lies a man haunted by personal loss—an absent son and a family strained by sorrow. His love for his remaining child is the quiet anchor that steadies his world, even as the quiet of his homestead threatens to crumble beneath an unseen pressure.
When his teenage daughter, Lily, vanishes, the equilibrium shatters, propelling Clay onto a relentless quest that tears him from the safety of his fields and into the chaotic heart of the frontier. Along the way, he finds an unlikely ally in the hardened Billy, a weathered figure whose own brand of survival complements Clay’s determined resolve. Their path threads through gritty towns such as Wichita and Dodge City, each stop a crucible where danger and desperation mingle, hinting at the broader moral quagmire of a world where justice is as mutable as the shifting dust.
The film balances a stark, unforgiving setting with a deeply human drama, exploring how grief can ignite a thirst for retribution while testing the limits of loyalty and love. As Clay and Billy chase elusive clues, the story teases the audience with the promise of confronting the brutal realities of a lawless land, leaving the outcome of their pursuit as an open, tension‑laden question.
Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:54
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Desperate journeys for justice on the brutal, lawless frontier.If you liked the desperate, violent quest for justice in Traded, you'll find more movies like it here. This collection features similar Western and frontier stories where characters embark on bleak revenge missions, facing brutal realities and high emotional costs in lawless territories.
The narrative is a straightforward, linear journey driven by a single goal: retribution for a profound wrong. The protagonist, often an ordinary person pushed to extremes, travels through dangerous territories, encountering violence and allies of questionable morality. The path is punishing, with little room for respite or hope, leading to a resolution that is often physically successful but emotionally devastating.
These films are grouped by their shared focus on a dark, relentless revenge plot set against a brutal frontier backdrop. They deliver a high-intensity experience defined by a fast pace, heavy emotional weight stemming from loss, and a somber, tense mood that rarely lets up.
Ordinary individuals descending into violence to save loved ones from darkness.For viewers who appreciated the desperate father's quest in Traded, this section highlights similar movies about family rescue missions. These films share a dark tone, high intensity, and explore the heavy emotional toll of crossing moral lines to save a loved one from unthinkable circumstances.
The narrative begins with an idyllic or stable life violently disrupted, propelling a reluctant hero into a harrowing rescue mission. The journey forces the protagonist to confront extreme evil, often involving themes like human trafficking or organized crime, and to employ violence that permanently scars them. The ending is typically bittersweet; the rescue is achieved, but at the cost of the protagonist's innocence and the family's former peace.
These films are united by their core premise: a devastating family crisis that triggers a morally complex and violent rescue operation. They share a consistently dark and tense mood, high-stakes pacing, and a profound exploration of grief, determination, and the sacrifices made for family.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Traded 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 Traded is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Traded, 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.
Track the full timeline of Traded with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Traded. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Traded: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Traded that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Traded (2016) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
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