Broke (2025) is a haunting, introspective Western drama that strips away the mythic grandeur of the American frontier and replaces it with something far more intimate: a man at the end of his rope, both literally and figuratively. Written and directed by Carlyle Eubank, the film is a stark, emotionally charged exploration of identity, masculinity, and survival in the harsh isolation of the modern-day West.
The story centers on True Brandywine, a former rodeo star whose career has been reduced to fading glory and broken dreams. Stranded in a remote wilderness during a deadly blizzard, True must rely on both his instincts and sheer willpower to survive. But the storm outside is only part of the struggleโinside, heโs fighting memories of a life marked by regret, lost love, and the crushing weight of unrealized expectations.
Wyatt Russell gives a raw, deeply human performance as True, embodying the physicality of a cowboy and the vulnerability of a man reckoning with his past. As the cold sets in and his condition worsens, flashbacks begin to reveal a portrait of a life unravelingโhighlighting the fractured relationship with his father, missed opportunities, and the loneliness that defines the cowboy myth in the 21st century.
Visually, Broke is stunning in its desolation. Sweeping shots of frozen Montana landscapes underscore the filmโs themes of isolation and existential despair. The minimal score and sparse dialogue allow silence to do much of the storytelling, creating an atmosphere that is both meditative and harrowing.
