1922 2017
Directed by
Zak Hilditch
Made by
Netflix
Plot Summary
In 1922, Wilfred “Wilf” James (Thomas Jane) is a farmer residing in Hemingford Home, Nebraska, alongside his wife, Arlette (Molly Parker), and their teenage son, Henry (Dylan Schmid). The couple is embroiled in a heated disagreement over Arlette’s inherited land; while Arlette is keen to sell and relocate to Omaha, Wilf, valuing his pride above all, vehemently opposes this plan. Driven by desperation to maintain both his land and his bond with Henry, Wilf concocts a sinister plot to murder Arlette, manipulating his son by threatening the relationship with Henry’s girlfriend, Shannon (Kaitlyn Bernard).
Feigning support for the sale, Wilf lures Arlette into a false sense of security, leading to a night of celebration where she drinks excessively. After tucking her into bed, the horrific act unfolds as Henry, under his father’s influence, assists in covering her face while Wilf brutally slits her throat with a butcher’s knife. The plan to bury her in the cornfield turns disastrous when Henry succumbs to panic, resulting in Wilf disposing of Arlette’s remains in a dry well, destined to be feasted upon by rats. To cover their tracks, they drop a cow into the well, presenting it as the cause for its backfilling. However, suspicion looms as Sheriff Jones (Brian d’Arcy James) probes further into Arlette’s abrupt vanishing, leading to a tense but ultimately unfruitful investigation.
As time progresses, guilt gnaws at Henry, turning him into a pensive shadow of his former self. Shannon discovers she is pregnant, prompting her parents to send her away to a Catholic institution in Omaha. Driven by a sense of urgency and love, Henry steals Wilf’s car and escapes with Shannon to forge a life together.
However, winter brings a new torment for Wilf, who slowly descends into madness, unable to escape the rats that metaphorically represent his guilt and haunting memories of Arlette. His home falls apart, reflecting his mental state, as he drowns his sorrows in alcohol. His neglect results in collapse—both of the structures around him and within his psyche. An unfortunate rat bite leads to an infection requiring amputation, marking a physical manifestation of his deteriorating existence.
In a climactic confrontation, Wilf is haunted by the ghostly figure of Arlette, surrounded by the ravenous rats. Through her chilling presence, he learns of the fate that befell Henry and Shannon; as they embark on a life of crime, their story echoes the infamous duo, Bonnie and Clyde. Tragedy strikes during a robbery, ending Shannon’s life in a violent confrontation. Following her death, consumed by grief and despair, Henry takes his own life, leaving his body in a wretched state, much like his mother after being ravaged by rats.
Wilf’s attempts to salvage his legacy lead to rejection from Shannon’s father, Harlan Cotterie (Neal McDonough), who drives him away, further isolating him. Eight years later, in 1930, Wilf pens a confession that chillingly states, > “In the end, we all get caught.” Surrounded by the remnants of his past—Arlette, Henry, and Shannon—he faces his ultimate reckoning, wielding the very knife that severed his family ties, as the swarms of rats close in, an unending reminder of his transgressions.
Timeline
Wilf and Arlette's Disagreement
In 1922, Wilfred 'Wilf' James and his wife, Arlette, are caught in a fierce dispute over her inherited land. While Arlette wishes to sell and relocate to Omaha for a fresh start, Wilf is adamantly against the idea, clinging to his pride and the family's agricultural roots.
Wilf's Sinister Plan
Frustrated by Arlette's determination, Wilf devises a malevolent scheme to eliminate her from their lives. He manipulates their teenage son, Henry, threatening their relationship with his girlfriend Shannon to gain his support in the deadly plot.
Night of Deception
Wilf feigns support for Arlette's land sale, leading her to a celebratory night where she drinks heavily. In a tragic turn, after putting Arlette to bed, Wilf brutally murders her with the help of Henry, horrifically covering her face before committing the act.
Disposing of the Body
Following the murder, the plan to bury Arlette in the cornfield fails when Henry panics, leaving Wilf to dispose of her body in a dry well. To mask their actions, they drop a cow into the well to provide an alternative explanation for its backfilling.
Sheriff's Investigation
Arlette’s sudden disappearance raises suspicions, prompting Sheriff Jones to investigate. Wilf and Henry face increasing pressure as they attempt to conceal the truth behind her vanishing, but their guilt begins to seep through the cracks.
Henry's Guilt and Shannon's Pregnancy
As time passes, Henry is overwhelmed by guilt, becoming a shadow of his former self. Meanwhile, Shannon discovers she is pregnant, leading her parents to send her away to a Catholic institution in Omaha, separating her from Henry.
Henry's Escape
Unable to cope with the separation from Shannon, Henry steals Wilf's car in a desperate act of love and urgency. He escapes with Shannon, hoping to create a new life for themselves despite the dark past that haunts them.
Wilf's Descent into Madness
Winter brings a new wave of torment for Wilf, plunging him into madness as he is haunted by rats, symbolic of his guilt and memories of Arlette. His mental decline leads to the disintegration of his home and his own psyche, leading him to alcohol for solace.
Physical Consequences
Wilf's neglect culminates in an unfortunate rat bite that requires amputation, serving as a grim representation of his crumbling existence. The infection manifests his guilt, leaving him in a physical state that parallels his mental deterioration.
Haunting Confrontation
In a climactic moment, Wilf is confronted by the spectral image of Arlette surrounded by rats, revealing the fate of Henry and Shannon. They have turned to a life of crime, echoing the infamous Bonnie and Clyde, hinting at tragedy ahead.
Tragic Robbery
Tragedy strikes as Henry and Shannon attempt a robbery, resulting in Shannon's death during a violent confrontation. This devastating loss shatters Henry, plunging him further into despair and guilt over the life choices they've made.
Henry's Final Decision
Overwhelmed by grief after Shannon's death, Henry makes the heart-wrenching decision to take his own life. His demise parallels Arlette's fate, leaving his body to decay and serving as a haunting reminder of their family's downfall.
Rejection by Harlan Cotterie
Wilf's attempts to redeem his legacy are met with rejection from Harlan Cotterie, Shannon's father, who drives him away in contempt. This forces Wilf deeper into isolation as he faces the demons of his past actions alone.
Wilf's Confession
Eight years after the tragedy in 1930, Wilf writes a chilling confession that reflects on his life choices that led to his family's destruction. He poignantly concludes with the statement, 'In the end, we all get caught,' embodying his inevitable reckoning.
Final Reckoning
As Wilf faces the remnants of his past—the memories of Arlette, Henry, and Shannon—he finds himself wielding the very knife that severed his family ties. Surrounded by rats, he confronts the consequences of his actions, ultimately facing his own demise.
Characters
Wilfred 'Wilf' James (Thomas Jane)
Wilfred 'Wilf' James is a prideful and desperate farmer who resorts to murder to maintain control over his land and family. His character embodies the struggle between personal desire and moral integrity, as he spirals into madness due to guilt. As the story unfolds, Wilf's crumbling mental state reflects his increasingly isolated existence.
Arlette James (Molly Parker)
Arlette James is Wilf's wife, whose desire to sell their inherited land leads to tragic consequences. She represents the conflict between progress and tradition, as her ambition clashes with Wilf's pride. Her character ultimately embodies the innocence lost to violence and betrayal, making her demise all the more tragic.
Henry James (Dylan Schmid)
Henry James is the teenage son caught in his father's fatal web of deceit and manipulation. Initially a passive character, he is coerced into complicity in the murder, leading to profound guilt that transforms him into a shadow of his former self. His evolution reflects the tragic consequences of familial loyalty when entangled in moral corruption.
Sheriff Jones (Brian d'Arcy James)
Sheriff Jones serves as the moral compass of the film, investigating Arlette's disappearance and embodying the law in a desperate rural setting. His persistence in seeking the truth contrasts sharply with Wilf's deception, symbolizing the struggle between justice and wrongdoing. Despite his efforts, he ultimately fails to uncover the dark secret.
Shannon Cotterie (Kaitlyn Bernard)
Shannon Cotterie is Henry's girlfriend, whose unexpected pregnancy and subsequent fate weave her deeply into the family’s tragic web. Her character represents the loss of innocence and the impact of choices made by those around her, culminating in a heartbreaking end that illustrates the far-reaching consequences of Wilf and Henry's actions.
Harlan Cotterie (Neal McDonough)
Harlan Cotterie is Shannon's father, representing the protective instincts of a parent confronted with tragedy. His rejection of Wilf symbolizes the broader themes of consequence and accountability, as he embodies the pain inflicted by Wilf's choices on innocent lives.
Setting
Time period
1922-1930
The film is set in the early 1920s, a time marked by significant social change and economic challenges in the United States following World War I. The story transitions into the 1930s, a period characterized by the onset of the Great Depression, which heightened struggles for many American families, further reflecting the despair faced by the characters.
Location
Hemingford Home, Nebraska
Hemingford Home is a small rural community in Nebraska, known for its agricultural landscape and farming lifestyle. The setting provides an intimate backdrop for the story, emphasizing themes of isolation and desperation in rural America during the early 20th century.
Themes
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Guilt and Consequences
The theme of guilt permeates the narrative as Wilf and Henry's heinous act of murder leads to their eventual demise. Their internal struggles manifest into madness and despair, illustrating the long-lasting effects of their choices. The consequences of their actions ripple through their lives, culminating in tragic endings that emphasize the moral weight of their crimes.
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Love and Betrayal
The bond between parents and children is central to the film, yet it is marred by betrayal as Wilf manipulates Henry to commit murder. This conflict explores how love can be twisted into something destructive, revealing the darker facets of familial relationships. The tragic outcomes highlight the fragility of love when entangled with greed and desperation.
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Isolation and Madness
Isolation is a crucial theme, as Wilf's actions lead to his personal and emotional seclusion. As the story progresses, the impacts of his choices push him into madness, influenced by the haunting reminders of his past. The imagery of rats and decay symbolizes not only physical isolation but also the psychological decay that stems from guilt and remorse.
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