Ben Is Back 2018

As Holly Burns steps outside of church on Christmas Eve, she is met with an unexpected reunion—her son Ben has just emerged from rehab, desperately searching for comfort in the familiar surroundings of home. Although she is initially skeptical about his stability and how it might impact her other children, Holly ultimately agrees to let him stay for 24 hours, under one strict rule: he must remain at her side throughout his visit.

Their trip to the mall takes a dramatic turn when they encounter a former doctor connected to Ben’s struggle with addiction. Although the doctor’s dementia prevents him from providing any helpful insights, the encounter ignites a confrontation that leaves Holly feeling utterly powerless and filled with rage. Meanwhile, Ben reconnects with his childhood friend Spencer, who now finds himself entangled in the same vices that have plagued Ben for years.

At a support group meeting, Ben bravely shares his traumatic near-overdose experience, recounting how he was saved by his mother and the unyielding loyalty of their family dog, Ponce. This cathartic moment seems pivotal but unfortunately is short-lived. Holly soon discovers hidden drugs in Ben’s belongings, which he claims were placed there by a mysterious girl from the support group.

As the situation escalates, Holly confronts Ben at the cemetery, demanding to understand what kind of legacy he wishes to leave behind. That evening, their return from church is marred by tragedy as they find Ponce missing and their home broken into. This senseless loss triggers an urgent quest from Ben to retrieve his cherished dog, with Holly hesitantly following behind in her car.

As darkness falls, Ben divulges a harrowing secret to Holly: he bears the burden of responsibility for Maggie’s death, a truth he has carried in silence for far too long. The sudden reappearance of Spencer confirms suspicions about Clayton, a notorious drug dealer implicated in the disappearance of Ponce. Despite Ben’s insistence that Holly return home, she stands her ground—refusing to abandon him in his time of need.

In a moment of clarity, Ben confesses that his sponsor had advised him against returning home and reveals the shocking truth: the drugs Holly discovered weren’t from some enigmatic girl but hidden away in the attic above his siblings’ bedroom. With a heavy heart, Ben makes the difficult choice to leave Holly stranded at a gas station as he resolves to confront Clayton directly regarding Ponce.

When Ben attempts to negotiate for his beloved dog, he faces a chilling ultimatum: to regain Ponce, he must first carry out a drug run for Clayton. As this dangerous search for answers continues, Holly reaches out to Maggie’s mother for advice, receiving a crucial med kit that can revive those who have suffered from an overdose, alongside the keys to Maggie’s car. Filled with renewed determination, Holly sets off to find Ben, seeking out Spencer and proposing a trade of confiscated drugs for intelligence about her brother’s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Ben fulfills his harrowing task and brings Ponce back, but at a heavy price: Clayton hands him a stash of narcotics as his reward. As night deepens, Ben drives to an isolated barn, leaving Ponce inside the vehicle with an emotional note asking whoever finds it to contact his mother.

Desperate to find her son, Holly’s own search becomes increasingly frantic, culminating in a visit to a local police station. Just when hope seems lost, she receives a call from a stranger who has found Ponce and is willing to return him. Following the lead, Holly arrives at the abandoned barn, only to discover Ben lying unconscious on the ground, his body ravaged by drugs he obtained from Clayton.

With tears flooding her eyes, Holly desperately employs the vital techniques from the med kit, pleading for her brother to “come back” to her. As the moments stretch painfully, Ben’s chest begins to rise and fall once again, signaling a fragile return to life in this heart-wrenching battle against addiction and despair.