Based on the novel by Michael Farris Smith and directed by Nadine Crocker, Desperation Road is one of the most depressing dramas that follows two characters whose fates are intertwined with each other. The narrative centers around Russell and Maben, who embark on their journey to redeem themselves, but destiny brings them together. Desperation Road has a lot of drama in it, but it fails to evoke that gritty emotion even though it tries hard enough. Let’s discuss the storyline to see how the fate of these characters unfolds.
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Movie?
Desperation Road opens with a woman named Maben, on the way to Mississippi with her daughter after she lost her lover in an accident. No matter how bad the circumstances they would have to face, Maben promised her daughter, Analee, that she would never leave her. Not having enough money, Maben had to spend the night in a motel room, where she looked out the window and found some junkies and prostitutes. Having no other option left, she made up her mind to earn some cash by any means; however, a local cop spotted her and started interrogating her about what she was up to. Initially, Maben tried to avoid him, but as the cop started pressing her, she had to stop to talk to him. The cop forced her to get into his car and took her somewhere on the road. Maben begged him to leave her, as she had a little girl waiting in the motel room, but the perverted cop wanted something from her in exchange for her release. Maben had no other option left but to abide by him, because all she wanted to do was go back to her daughter. But even though the cop was done with it, he didn’t let her go and called some of his friends to go after her. Maben, compelled by the situation, grabbed a gun from his car and shot him twice to death. She left the place but kept the pistol and the bullet casings to herself.
Meanwhile, Russell, who was sent to prison for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a death, came back home after his release. But at the bus stop, he got badly beaten by Larry and his friend, Walt, who were close to Jason, the guy who lost his life in that accident. However, Russell went to meet his father, who was now living with a Mexican woman named Consuela after his wife’s demise. Russell had a girlfriend in his hometown, but due to his imprisonment, he had to cut all ties with her, leading her to get married and have kids. Russell didn’t expect her to come back, but he was still in love with her. One day, his ex-love came to visit him and returned to him the ring that Russell had given her. Russell, after leaving his father’s house, began to live in a small house, but Larry, who was an alcoholic and a violent person, came to Russell’s house at night and broke all his windows. However, Deputy Boyd, who was a colleague of that deceased cop, was the closest friend of Russell. Boyd began investigating the cop’s death and found that the murder weapon was missing.
How Did Russell Help Maben Out?
Maben, taking her kid along, left the motel and took refuge at a shelter, where she maintained a low profile, hiding herself. But one day, the lady who worked there found a pistol in Maben’s belongings and called the cops. Maben wasted no time in that shelter. She managed to grab the pistol and fled the place with her daughter. While she was on the run, she stumbled upon Russell, whom she threatened with the pistol, pointing it at him and asking him to take her and her daughter north. After Maben and Analee hopped into his truck, Russell managed to snatch the pistol from her hands. He realized that the pistol was a police firearm, so he asked her why she was on the run with a pistol in her hand. Maben told him everything, confessing how the cop behaved with her and how she ended up killing him. Russell sympathized with her, as she had no place to go with her daughter.
Russell decided to take Maben and her daughter to his home, where, under the supervision of his father and Consuela, they could safely stay there for some days. But Boyd kept coming to visit Russell’s place, as he was wondering about his abrupt disappearance. Maben and her daughter were warmly welcomed by Russell’s family. Maben and Analee stayed at their barn house, while Russell’s family maintained discretion about her stay. One night, Russell asked Maben to meet him near a lake because he wanted to confess something to her. He said that he was arrested after causing an accident due to driving under the influence. But the accident, which took place that fateful night, claimed Maben’s boyfriend, Jason’s life.
Maben could recall the night when she witnessed the accident in front of her eyes and lost her lover very well. She couldn’t bring herself to forgive Russell and admitted the fact that she had prayed that the killer of her lover could get the toughest punishment. Russell wanted to redeem himself, believing that fate had brought him the chance to rectify his mistakes by helping Maben. But Maben, who was still in grief, struggled to forgive him. However, realizing that Russell had done everything he could to help her out of the situation, she forgave him. She threw the cop’s pistol into the lake to forget all the baggage of her past. But the story didn’t end right there.
What Happened To Larry?
Larry, who was an alcoholic aggressor, had been separated from his family. He always disrespected his wife and demanded to raise his son all by himself. But his son, who knew his father wasn’t a healthy person for them, avoided any contact with him. Larry decided to kill himself out of that unbearable pain, but he couldn’t find the courage to do it. Instead, he decided to take revenge on Russell. He sneaked into Russell’s place and hid himself, waiting for an opportunity to strike him. On the other hand, Russell, who realized his house wasn’t safe for Maben anymore, asked her to leave the town. He promised her that his family would take good care of Analee.
Initially hesitant, Maben finally agreed to leave the town to evade police capture, but while she was about to leave, Larry struck her severely and subsequently attacked Russell. Russell and Larry got into a severe altercation, but Russell’s father managed to stop Larry by shooting him from behind. It was an act of self-defense, and Russell and his father wanted to send Larry to the hospital, but before they could do anything, Larry took off. He reached his house and intended to have a last conversation with his family. His wife, who was worried about his situation, called 911, but without accepting any help, Larry went on a driving rampage. Ultimately, on the way, he fell unconscious, leading his car to hit a police vehicle, and Larry lost his life.
How Did Russell Save Maben In The End?
During Desperation Road‘s ending, Russell rushed Maben to the hospital, where she was immediately taken to the emergency room. Boyd came to visit Russell, who had to tell him everything, starting with Maben accidentally killing the cop and Russell’s effort to save her life. But Boyd didn’t know how to handle this situation. Russell begged him to just let it fall by the wayside, so Boyd demanded any proof. Russell gave him a bullet casing that was picked by Maben when she shot the cop with his pistol. As Larry’s car crashed and he was dead, Boyd cleverly placed the bullet shell into his car to frame Larry for the murder of the cop. Maben had survived the injury, and fortunately, both she and Russell were spared further punishment, giving them a new opportunity to start afresh. Russell’s father and Consuela took care of Maben and Analee, who stayed at their place. After a series of traumatizing events, Maben finally got another opportunity to live and raise her daughter. She forgave Russell, who finally got closure from his guilt.
