2016 • Lionsgate
Rated: R
Length: 1 hr 42min
Action ~ Crime ~ Drama ~ Thriller ~ Western
Director: David Mackenzie
Writer: Taylor Sheridan
Actors: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham and Amber Midthunder.
Justice isn’t a crime.
Official Trailer
Hell Or High Water (2016) – Review
The Brothers
Brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner Howard (Ben Foster) are from West Texas, which is currently an economically ravaged wasteland. Tanner has recently been released from prison, while Toby had been taking care of their sick mother. Her death has left the family ranch in debt to Texas Midlands Bank, who owns a reverse mortgage on the property, and is headed to foreclosure. The bank’s eagerness to foreclose isn’t just about the debt—it’s about the black gold beneath the soil. With oil discovered on the property, the Howard ranch has transformed from a dusty burden into a life-changing asset, and the bank is circling like a vulture to seize it.
The Plan
They need exactly $40,000 to pay off Texas Midlands Bank and save the Ranch. Toby has come up with a plan that is pure poetic justice. They are going to rob small, local branches of Texas Midlands Bank early in the morning. They will only take “loose” small bills from the drawers—no hundreds, no bundles—making the money impossible to track. Then they are going to launder the stolen cash at Indian casinos to get clean checks, which they will then use to pay the bank its own money back. All Toby has to do is keep Tanner from getting too out of line, given he can be a bit of a loose wire. And not getting caught or shot before they can reach their goal.
The Law
Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) is a grizzled Texas Ranger weeks away from a retirement he doesn’t want. His partner is Texas Ranger Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham) who is part Mexican and part Native American Comanche. Marcus constantly ribs Alberto with racial Mexican and Native American insults, while Alberto fires right back with dry wit and weary patience. They are brothers in arms and Marcus is going to miss the close bond they have had working together. They get a call about a robbery of a Texas Midlands branch and go to investigate. Shortly after they get a call about another Texas Midlands Branch robbery and Marcus and Alberto start to wonder which branch will be next.
The Chase
The two Rangers head out to hunt down the robbers, while the brothers are trying to stay one step ahead and get enough money to pay off the bank. It is a game of cat and mouse, and a race against the clock. Hell Or High Water is a gritty, fast-paced Neo-Western wrapped around a David vs. Goliath classic underdog story based in impoverished West Texas. It is classic Taylor Sheridan, and personally this is one of my favorites. Also interesting to note is that Taylor Sheridan appears as a cowboy in the Diner scene. Amber Midthunder (who plays a teller in one of the banks) and Gil Birmingham both appeared in another Taylor Sheridan Movie, Wind River.
I have seen Hell Or High Water at least half a dozen times and it never gets old. If you’ve seen it and it’s been a while, it’s a good one to re-watch. If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for?
Keep your eyes peeled for the scene at The T-Bone Cafe, Margaret Bowman plays the meanest rattlesnake of a waitress you’ve ever seen!
Turn off the lights and devices,
Make some popcorn
Grab a beverage
and stream
Hell Or High Water!
Hell Or High Water (2016) – Review by Bobby @ Streaming Movie Night.
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Hell Or High Water (2016) – Review © 2026 Streaming Movie Night
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