Great Plains (2016) Reviews

• Hit the Road, Mama

  wes-connors2017-02-25

  Showing bruises on her face and thigh, Oklahoma blonde Tara Buck (as Murel) is driving to California with her seven-year-old son Spencer Mabrey (as Kipp). They are attempting to separate from Ms. Buck's bearded, beer-drinking husband Damon Carney (as Tommy). He is an abusive husband and step-father. Making the journey difficult, Mr. Carney has accused Buck of kidnapping his step-son and the police are searching for the bruised, blonde mother. Desperate to protect her son, Buck visits relatives while trying to avoid the police and her husband... "Inspired by a true story," this drama plays alongside other "Lifetime TV" stories, but it is not at all like the channel's celebrated "psycho killer" genre movies. This is a thoroughly serious domestic abuse story. Director Blair Hayes and his cast bring Buck and the characters she meets to life quite realistically. Each segment in "A Mother's Escape" arrives in time to help move what is essentially a slow, low-budget drama. The story could have been done as a higher budgeted feature film. It does not distinguish itself in stark realism, but impressively attempts. ****** A Mother's Escape/ Great Plains (7/21/2016) Blair Hayes ~ Tara Buck, Spencer Mabrey, Damon Carney, Beth Grant

• ***

  edwagreen2017-01-28

  Though this was based on a true story, the characters are so stereotypical. Men are really shown here to be a bunch of drunken,lecherous fellows and the woman involved is common, loose, but loves her young son. How the child could be this well developed under such an environment is missing. Then, there is also her mother, very stereotyped, common, loose lips, aggressive, but with a good heart. A woman who had a child with a drunk, marries another liquor taker who adopts the boy. Both the woman and young boy are subjected to his disgusting ways and she flees, only to be charged with his kidnapping. There is a sympathetic sheriff who doubts the guy's story and the ending is justified. Anyone see any similarity in looks between our heroine and Kellyanne Conway?