Short Story – Over the Red River
Directed by: Myles Clohessy
Genre: Action · Thriller · Mystery
The Red River wasn’t always red.
For ex-soldier Jack Reilly, it was just another checkpoint in his escape plan—until he saw the name “Catherine Voss” scratched onto the wooden bridge that spanned its blood-tinged waters. A name from his past. A name that should’ve been buried with the mission in Belarus five years ago.
Jack, a mercenary turned fugitive, arrives in a sleepy Eastern European town while fleeing a corrupt intelligence agency. He plans to cross the Red River and disappear into the borderlands. But when he discovers that Catherine—a presumed-dead MI6 operative he once loved and betrayed—is alive and being held in a makeshift prison across the river, everything changes.
With time running out, Jack must choose between survival and redemption. Teaming up with Mila, a local barmaid with ties to the underground resistance, Jack infiltrates the fortress-like compound. Every step toward the river is laced with landmines—both real and emotional.
As he fights his way through mercenaries and betrayal, memories of his past with Catherine surface. The truth is more twisted than he imagined: Catherine was never the victim—she was part of a covert operation that framed Jack for war crimes he didn’t commit.
In a heart-pounding final confrontation at the riverbank under red skies, Jack faces both his enemies and his past. Shots ring out. Loyalties unravel. And when the river finally runs still, Jack makes a choice that proves he’s not the man they thought he was.
He may never be free. But he won’t run anymore.
Public Review – Over the Red River
“Over the Red River” is a gripping, character-driven action thriller that packs emotional weight along with high-stakes suspense. Director Myles Clohessy delivers a taut, atmospheric film that balances brutal intensity with quiet moments of reflection.
The story follows Jack Reilly, a former soldier haunted by betrayal and a buried past, as he returns to a ghost-ridden corner of Eastern Europe to uncover the truth behind a mission gone wrong. What begins as a straightforward escape quickly turns into a dangerous rescue operation that peels back layers of deceit, trauma, and unresolved love.
The performances are standout—especially the lead, who brings a rugged intensity mixed with vulnerability. The chemistry between Jack and the mysterious Catherine adds emotional depth, while the gritty cinematography perfectly captures the foggy, bleak terrain surrounding the Red River. The action is grounded and well-executed, never over-the-top, and always in service of the story.
One of the film’s strongest points is its pacing: it’s relentless when it needs to be, but also knows when to slow down and let its characters breathe. Some viewers might find parts of the plot a bit convoluted, especially in the second act, but the payoff is satisfying.
“Over the Red River” isn’t just a thriller—it’s a story about redemption, memory, and the moral price of survival. A must-watch for fans of gritty espionage dramas like Sicario or The Constant Gardener.
