Over the Red River (2024)

Baylee Toney plays Charlotte Worthington, a young woman raped in front of her husband by an outlaw gang led by a man named Billy.

Before departing her New Mexico home, the gang kidnaps her sister Mary. And Billy puts a bullet in her husband’s head.

The sheriff figures there’s little he can do. The same gang stole his horse. Besides, he’d be one man against an outlaw gang.

So Charlotte decides she’s going to walk off on her own mission of vengeance, carrying nothing but a six-gun and a water bag.

She nearly perishes during the journey, but gets an unexpected visitor when she finally reaches Red River.

That would be an Indian taken from his home as a young boy during a massacre and raised by an outlaw named Billy.

Turns out the Indian was at Charlotte’s home when the outlaws struck. It was her unheeded pleas for mercy that caused him to break with the gang.

Charlotte might be able to forgive him for doing nothing to help that day.

If he helps her find her sister.

Baylee Toney as Charlotte, heading into the wilderness for vengeance and to free a captured sister in Over the Red River (2024)

Michael Bricker as the Indian, spotting Charlotte in need of help in Over the Red River (2024)

Review:

The premise of a young woman staggering off alone to avenge her husband’s death against a notorious outlaw gang is rather implausible.

But it worked in “Hannie Caulder” (1971), not quite as well in “The Animals” (1970), and better than that here.

What director Myles Clohessy has done is serve up an excellent example of how to make an entertaining Western on a shoestring budget.

He does it with an intense opening, some wonderful cinematography and a moving performance from Baylee Toney in the lead role.

The plot isn’t intricate enough to sustain the 83-minute run time, but this is still worth a watch for any fan of Westerns.

Gary Cairns as Billy, about to put a bullet into Charlotte’s husband in Over the Red River (2024)

Will Roberts as Jesse, acting up again when the Indian (Michael Bricker) raises objections to the treatment of Mary in Over the Red River (2024)

Directed by:
Myles Clohessy

Cast:
Baylee Toney … Charlotte Worthington
Gary Cairns … Billy
Will Roberts … Jesse
Jake Jacobson … Sheriff
Michael Bricker … The Indian
Echo Andersson … Mary
Aldo Juliano … Wyatt
Ramsey K. Heltmann … Oliver
Cade Morrison … John

Runtime: 83 min.

Echo Andersson as Mary, the younger sister Charlotte is trying to rescue in Over the Red River (2024)

Jake Jacobson as the sheriff, advising Charlotte to forget what happened and head back East in Over the Red River (2024)

Memorable lines:

Charlotte, after spitting on the sheriff’s badge: “I’m going to find my sister. With or without your help. But first, I have to bury my husband.”

Sheriff, leaving Charlotte a six-gun: “There’s five bullets in there. Use them wisely.”

Charlotte, of her sister Mary: “She doesn’t know nothing of this word. Now she’s out there in the devil’s den. Alone.”

Charlotte to the Indian, after he explains how he wound up with an outlaw gang: “You think I’m supposed to feel sorry for you? You’re sob story don’t mean shit to me.”

Baylee Toney as Charlotte, trying to decide whether the Indian deserves a bullet or a chance to explain himself in Over the Red River (2024)

Michael Bricker as the Indian, blood still smeared on his face from a kill in Over the Red River (2024)

Baylee Toney as Charlotte, her alarm stifled by the Indian in Over the Red River (2024)

Baylee Tomey as Charlotte, finding a possible source of help and new hope in Over the Red River (2024)