The Mustang 2019

As a helicopter descends, a vast herd of wild mustangs is corralled, facing their grim fate as they’re removed from their natural habitat to remedy the growing issue of overpopulation. A small group of these wild horses, numbering just a few hundred, is transported to prison facilities, where they will be trained and eventually sold off to fund the program.

Roman Coleman, a man grappling with a troubled past, finds himself relocated to a Nevada penitentiary. There, he is summoned for an interview with a psychologist, Connie Britton. His hesitance to open up stems from his dark history, marked by leaving behind a domestic partner who now endures severe brain damage due to one of Roman’s violent episodes. This traumatic experience has rendered him unable to reintegrate into society, leading him to prefer the solitude of confinement.

His life takes an unexpected turn when his teenage daughter Martha makes an unannounced visit, seeking his signature on critical documents. This encounter sets the stage for a poignant chapter in Roman’s life, compelling him to face the weight of his actions and the glimmer of potential redemption.

As part of his sentencing, Roman is tasked with outdoor maintenance roles, providing him a brief escape from the prison’s confines. During this time, he unexpectedly encounters a mustang that is deemed too wild for training, which earns him a spot in a rehabilitation program led by Myles.

In this program, Roman is assigned a mustang, Marquis, and given a strict 12-week timeline to train it, all intended to prepare the horses for eventual auction. Initially, Roman struggles to bond with the spirited animal, but under the mentorship of Henry, a fellow inmate known for his adept horse-training skills, he begins to find his footing.

As Roman continues his training, he develops a close relationship not only with Marquis but also with Henry, who guides him towards a newfound purpose. However, this razor-thin sense of belonging soon faces a test when Martha returns with another request—this time asking for Roman’s initials on every page of an important document. Her ulterior motives surface when she proposes selling their family home, inherited from Roman’s mother, to secure a brighter future for herself.

Roman’s reaction to this revelation speaks volumes; he grapples with his daughter’s decision to leave him in the past, leading to frustration that seeps into his bond with Marquis. This internal turmoil explodes into a loss of temper, resulting in his dismissal from the program and a return to solitary confinement.

As Roman begins to adjust to his new reality, a sudden storm brews, stirring chaos among the horse-training inmates, who are tasked with moving their horses to safety. Seizing a moment to redeem himself, Roman manages to rejoin the training program amid the turmoil.

Upon returning, he finds himself clashing with his cellmate Dan, a manipulative addict who coerces him into smuggling horse tranquilizers—an act previously associated with Henry. The program suffers a devastating setback when Dan, in a fit of rage, murders Henry, resulting in Roman’s uncontrolled fury as he retaliates, leaving Dan unconscious and alerting the authorities of the crime.

As consequences unfold, Roman is left to deliberate his quest for redemption against the harsh backdrop of prison life. When the day of the auction arrives, he extends an olive branch to Martha, hoping for a reconciliation. However, the prospect of unity hangs by a thread when Roman prepares to present Marquis to the bidders but is abruptly distracted by his daughter’s absence, leaving him feeling isolated.

This lapse results in a catastrophe when Marquis spooks from the noise of an overhead helicopter, causing Roman to be thrown off and nearly becoming part of a chaotic stampede as other trainers strive to regain control.

Once order has been restored, Myles delivers devastating news: Marquis is deemed unfit for training and faces a mercy killing. Seizing a stroke of fate amidst the turmoil caused by the inclement weather, Roman makes a daring decision to orchestrate an escape for the beloved horse.

In the wake of these events, time passes uneasily until Roman receives a touching letter from Martha. In it, she acknowledges her father’s stubbornness to remain confined and includes a heartwarming photograph of herself with their newborn grandson, promising that a visit will facilitate an introduction. As Roman takes in the heartfelt note, he looks towards Marquis standing steadfast by the prison fence, his heart swelling with pride and hope for the future.