The Bygone

A captivating drama following kip, a young cowboy, as he tries to find and save a young woman being held captive. The cinematography was well done, the acting pretty good, and the storyline had a nice flow. I found myself drawn into the story and into the characters. It was obviously low budget, but well done.

The message the movie has is a good one. As in putting awareness on something many may not be aware of. Like how native Americans are being exploited - especially females in this case. As the opening text tells us, way more than any other group of females.

The movie is dramatic, has characters who try to do their best (well the good guys and gals that is) - but is it enough to fight back the ugliness and badness they have to face? Will there be something good that comes out of it? Apart from those viewing realizing how extreme some people can be - and how evil too.

Not an easy topic and not an easy movie therefor ... maybe not your thing which would totally be fine. Just be aware what you are going to watch.

So, according to Netflix, fracking is the villain here. Not human trafficking, the usual movie "buzz". Totally predictable by Hollywood standards. If you're from ND or even remotely know anything about it, you know that Cavalier County is about a half days drive, at 80mph from the nearest oil well. There's no such place as "South Falls, ND" and our zip codes all start with a "58". Typical Hollywood garbage. I would have thought Michael Moore wrote the script, except that I don't remember "fracking" being mentioned even once.

Ok writing, good directing and acting. It does have some flaws but holds its own as a thriller.

The story takes place in a rural area where the oil industry erodes the traditional country/cowboy life and brings big city crime. The environment is not clearly portrayed, but the characters are developed enough to not feel a stereotypes, and the story feels realistic and interesting.

At the center of the story are young people from the bottom of the social ladder, unable to find a place and victimized by various corrupt characters. That's as much as we are shown about their environment, except for other unsavory characters and a handful of honest people trying to make a living and helping.

Within the above limitations, the scenes and dialogs are well developed and directed, and the plot twist and turns frequently making this also an action flick that holds interest to its end.

Well acted and keeps you interested. But...unoriginal, predictable, and unrealistic.