The American West has been crippled by a 20-year drought, ravaged by an opioid epidemic, and overrun by corporate ventures. Many multi-generational ranching families are struggling to break even, let alone make a living. Some are selling their properties to predatory property developers, but others can’t find it in them to let go and move on. They hold on to their past ideals and traditions, hoping that things will turn around. This short film is our way of portraying this human plight and bringing this issue to the big screen.

The story: Noah, a Rocky Mountain rancher and washed-up rodeo star, is confronted with financial and logistical issues as he struggles to keep his family and business afloat in a sea of modern problems. The more his problems grow, the more he avoids them by turning to the comfort of substance abuse and rumination. This toxic nostalgia manifests as a terrifying specter that is only made stronger by Noah’s reluctance to change.

The story is rooted in both the current state of ranching in the Rockies and in its folkloric tradition. The Siren character harkens to cowboy ballads that deal with emotional turmoil manifested as ghost cowboys on the range. This fusion of the traditional and modern strengthens the theme of generational strife in the film and ties it to the rich culture of the Rockies.