The brink has been reached for the characters in this drama, and it forces them to go past the point of no return.
It’s no surprise, as they feel the same has happened with climate change.
The film, inspired by the book featuring the same title, follows a group of young people who, seeing all other forms of protest ineffective, decide to sabotage a section of an oil pipeline in Texas. The plan originally formulates between college students Xochitl (Ariela Barer) and Shawn (Marcus Scribner).
They join forces with activists Rowan (Kristine Froseth), Logan (Lukas Gage), Theo (Sasha Lane), Alisha (Jayme Lawson) and Michael (Forrest Goodluck). Additionally, they partner with Dwayne (Jake Weary), a Texan who was forced to relocate when his property was bought out for a pipeline’s construction.
As a reporter who covered the oil industry and its impacts for nearly 10 years in both North Dakota and Minnesota, I’ve seen first-hand how intense the debate around the subject can get. The filmmakers here not only capture that intensity, but show how people can be forced into desperate measures when they find themselves in what they see as extremely desperate times.
Every character in the film has a well-explored motivation, each having an immense sense of urgency to go along with it. The film does this by opening with the characters gathering for their plan, and flashes back to each of their backgrounds.
There are times when this method can cause a movie to lose momentum, as a viewer is pulled out of the current action and brought back to an early period for the characters that’s less eventful. This movie doesn’t have that problem. Each flashback plays a pivotal role in building up the background for the characters.
The audience is able to learn how each character experienced a mix of helplessness and hopelessness that pushed them to the fringe of climate activism. Xochitl, for example, felt her efforts to create change via divestment strategies were hopeless, while Dwayne was helpless as he lost his land.
Learning where each person was at previously, and finding out how their strong conviction and fierce dedication to this cause was formed, only builds a viewer’s interest in seeing their plan go into action. It’s a great way to build tension, give depth to the central figures and keep a fast, engaging pace.
Director and co-writer Daniel Goldhaber also deserves credit for giving the movie somewhat of a heist-vibe, only there is no heist. Each of the characters has their own specialty related to their plan, there are scenes of recruiting people to the team, they have the strategy all the way down to the escape plan, and the actual plot is set in a race-against-the-clock situation.
The cast deserves plenty of praise, too. The young group of actors are quite good in portraying their characters’ frustration over the current issues caused by climate change and fossil fuel industries, as well as their commitment to their effort.
The film’s third act, especially the ending, could have been more fleshed out. It leaves a person wishing there had been another scene or two. There’s also a sense that more should’ve been addressed in terms of consequences and even the characters experiencing more pushback on their strategy.
However, this is still a very strong thriller revolving around one of the biggest issues we’re facing that’s finely crafted thanks to the cast and crew. 4.5 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 
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