Hell or High Water
Movie, 2016, Named by the writer, Set in Second in the trilogy
Hell or High Water is #47 of 48 in release order and #14 of 48 in chronological order in the Spiritual Trilogies.
The story
A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's farm in West Texas.
Hell or High Water recap
In West Texas, divorced father Toby Howard and his ex-convict brother Tanner rob small branches of the Texas Midlands Bank early in the morning, taking only loose bills. Their late mother's ranch is about to be foreclosed by the same bank, and oil has been found on it. Toby wants to pay off the loan with the bank's own money and leave the land in trust for his sons. Near-retirement Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton and his partner Alberto Parker take the case. Marcus works out their pattern and stakes out a likely target. Tanner, who enjoys it, robs a bank on his own without warning Toby. The brothers launder the cash through an Oklahoma casino. On their last robbery a crowd of armed townspeople chases them, and Tanner shoots one. The brothers split up. It is the second of Taylor Sheridan's Frontier Trilogy, written by him and directed by David Mackenzie.
Hell or High Water ending explained
Tanner dies after killing Alberto, and Toby keeps the ranch for his sons. Tanner draws the posse into the hills and shoots Alberto from a ridge. Marcus kills Tanner with a hunting rifle. Toby, with no evidence against him, pays off the loan and puts the land in a trust. Months later Marcus, now retired, visits Toby at the ranch. Each knows what the other did. Toby offers to settle it; Marcus says they will meet again some other day.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Hell or High Water
Hell or High Water is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 97%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Big Short, before Wind River.
- Chronological order: after Sicario, before Wind River.
Cast
- Jeff Bridges as Marcus Hamilton
- Chris Pine as Toby Howard
- Ben Foster as Tanner Howard
- Gil Birmingham as Alberto Parker
- Marin Ireland as Debbie Howard
- Kevin Rankin as Billy Rayburn
- Dale Dickey as Elsie
- William Sterchi as Mr. Clauson
- Kristin K. Berg as Olney Teller
- Katy Mixon as Jenny Ann
- Buck Taylor as Old Man
- Keith Meriweather as Rancher
Directed by David Mackenzie.