The Dogs of Winter
Genre: Mystery/Noir
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Chad Taylor
Based on the novel by Kem Nunn
Cast: Sean Penn, Matthew McConaughey, Zoe Saldana, Caleb Landry Jones, Zahn McClarnon, Gil Birmingham, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Mason Gooding, Forrest Goodluck, Michael Spears, Richard Ray Whitman
Plot: 1995 - Santa Monica, California
Jack Fletcher (Sean Penn) is on his morning bike ride. He’s a former award-winning surfing cinematographer but is currently working at the local supermarket as a portrait photographer, which is much easier on his body. When he arrives home, he finds his phone ringing - unusual for this time in the morning. He lets it go but it rings again so he picks up. It is Phil Rodgers, editor of the popular surfing magazine Victory at Sea. Phil received an unusual request yesterday: Drew Harmon wants Fletcher to come up to Northern California and gets pictures of him surfing Heart Attacks. Fletcher is confused by this and Phil admits that Jack would not have been his first choice but Drew specifically requested him and who was he to say no?
After the call, Fletcher paces his place and surveys his bookshelf. He begins thumbing through an old surfing guide from the 1970s. He goes to the page about Heart Attacks, a legendary surf spot near the California-Oregon border. But at the time of the book’s writing - and to today - it is only a myth as no surfer has ever reached it.
If Travis McCade (Zahn McClarnon) were a betting man, he’d be a poor one. Two marriages, two divorces. He works at the Indian Development Center in Sweet Home, California - a river town bordering near the reservations of the Yurok tribe at the mouth of the river and the Hupa tribe further inland. The two tribes have been at odds over the water supply over the years but Travis, half-Native himself, tries not to engage. He is also known to have dabbled in private investigating in the past and that is what brings in his latest visitor: Kendra Harmon (Zoe Saldana). Her beauty seems to transcend a town this small, reconfiguring the attention in every room she enters. She has gained a reputation as bit of an oddity, though, often rumored to wander the woods at night. But Travis didn’t care. If he had his way, he’d be planning a third wedding now.
They briefly catch up and he asks what brings her in. She asks what he knows of the Amanda Jaffey case from a few months back. He says he knows what everyone else knows: Amanda was seen arguing with a man outside of a bar, found dead the next morning, police found her blood on Marvus Dove’s boots, and he killed himself before he could be arrested. She asks if he believes that story and he says he doesn’t see why he shouldn’t. She tells him that she and Drew moved into Amanda’s old place. He gives her a creeped out look and she says that she feels like she has come in contact with Amanda’s spirit. And something doesn’t sit right with her but she doesn’t know what. She begins to leave and he asks if that’s all she came for. She confirms, saying she was curious was all. But he senses there is something more. Another theory, perhaps.
The sun beams down on Fletcher’s eyes as he drives an old Volkswagen van down the freeway. He has two young surfers with him who will ride with Drew for the shoot, Sonny Martin (Caleb Landry Jones) sleeping in the back and Robbie Jones (Mason Gooding) in the passenger seat. Robbie is the polar opposite of the man driving the van - shaven bald, full of youthful energy, and piercings everywhere. And when I say everywhere, Fletcher finds out the hard way as Robbie says they need to stop so that he can clean out his “Prince Albert” piercing (viewer discretion advised). After he does this, Fletcher asks him what he knows of Drew Harmon and Robbie says the guy is a surfing legend. A super stud back in the 70s but a shark attack rendered his competitive surfing career over and his stomach completely scarred. Fletcher nods, saying that sounds about right, before saying he used to know Drew back in the day but hasn’t seen him in years.
At her small home, Kendra lays sprawled out on the floor - trying to recite old spells that she overheard at the seances her dad took her to. In walks Drew Harmon (Matthew McCoughnahey), tall, a hint of grey in the hair, and a tan only a surfer would know. He is a quite bit older than her but she finds him charming just the same.In the same way Travis sees Kendra, most see Drew when they come into contact with him. She makes small talk about his day and she asks if he ever thinks about the girl who lived here before them. He shakes his head, saying he tries not to get bogged down. She tells him she went through some of Amanda’s things, things that were left behind when she died and no one cared to come check on her belongings. She pulls out a small handmade surfboard necklace and shows Drew, thinking he would enjoy it. He smiles at it for a moment and then changes the topic to something he chooses. He asks her what she would think of moving to Chile. This takes her totally by surprise but he says to think about the sights, the beaches, the mountains. She looks down to her hand to find it suddenly trembling. Why now, she thought. What could possibly have him wanting to leave the town he grew up in for a country he’d never set foot in?
Their conversation is interrupted by the Volkswagen pulling up outside their lot. Kendra is initially spooked but Drew explains that he was expecting visitors - some visitors from SoCal to surf with him and take pictures. Drew goes out to greet them and, upon seeing Fletcher, calls him “Doc,” a nickname from back in the day. In the corner of his eye, Fletcher catches Kendra looking at them from the doorframe. She gives a small wave and he waves back, asking Drew if that’s his girl. Drew nods before asking if they are ready for the shoot now. Fletcher confirms that they can do now. He then asks for confirmation that there will be a boat for him to take pictures from, as the magazine promised him, and Drew confirms.
The foursome get down to the beach and meet with a young Native teen by the name of David Little (Forrest Goodluck), no more than 16 from Fletcher’s estimation. It is his boat that Fletcher will be boarding for the pictures. When Drew removes his shirt, the two young surfers stare in awe at his gnarly scar from the shark attack. After a beat, he catches them staring and says if they’re lucky they can get one of their own. Their expressions quickly change. Robbie looks out on the big waves and asks if this is Heart Attacks. Drew laughs, saying this is only the warm-up. The three surfers hit the water as Fletcher boards the boat with David. He tries to make small talk with the kid but it is clear that he is just doing this to make some quick money, not make any new friends. The boat parks as Fletcher begins taking pictures as the trio navigate the waves. He feels a tingle down his spine as he is truly back in his element. He then spots rough waters incoming and looks to David, who spots them also. The surfers begin heading back to shore while David tries to start his engine back up but it is failing. Fletcher tries to help him but it is not working and a panic starts to set in as a nasty wave is oncoming. The last thing he hears is Drew calling out “Doc!” before the small boat violently overturns.
Everything is a blur at first as Fletcher begins coming to his senses while trying to stay afloat. He sees Robbie approaching to help him. Still in a haze, he sees Sonny in the distance talking to people before a loud crack sound and Sonny crumples to the ground. Robbie takes hold of Fletcher and pulls him along as they head out towards a nearby island — notably not the shore from which they came. The next thing he knows, he hears a gunshot from the shore and Robbie begins to panic. He takes cover once he gets on the island and Fletcher follows suit, asking what is going on. Robbie aggressively says that Fletcher is to blame for all of this. He should’ve been protecting the kid out there but instead he let the waters take him. Fletcher tries to explain about the engine but Robbie says it doesn’t matter now. Some Natives noticed David’s overturned boat and one of them just cocked Sonny with the butt of a gun The same gun they seem to be shooting in their direction now. He mutters that he should have left Fletcher out there on his own.
On shore, Drew tries to reason with the crowd that is increasingly gathering. Holding the gun is Bean Dip (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), a teenager from upriver who is rough around the edges. One of the people who arrives is Travis McCade and he goes to talk with Drew since he knows him a little bit. Drew tries his best to explain the situation but he doesn’t know the full story so he’s unaware of the engine failure. Travis chooses to take Drew at his word and proceeds to de-escalate the situation, pointing out that they don’t want the feds to come out here. Travis instructs Drew to take Sonny to the hospital while he will get his boat and retrieve the surfers on the island.
When Travis arrives on the island, he can see the nervousness from Fletcher and Robbie so he puts his hands up. He says that he talked with Drew and has come to help them out. He goes to help Fletcher up but is blindsided by a rock hitting him in the side of the face. Robbie drops the rock and flees while Fletcher goes to check on Travis, who is understandably pissed. Fletcher swears that he has only known Robbie for a day and doesn’t like him much himself. Fletcher asks about the kid, David. Travis bows his head and shakes it, saying David’s almost assuredly lost to the sea. Fletcher’s shoulders sink and he swears that he tried to help him. Fletcher asks if there is anything he can do to repay the boy’s family. Travis says that there are traditions but they should not worry about that now and instead focus on getting back. As Travis takes Fletcher back to the mainland, he has one instruction: warn Kendra to not go into town for any reason. Fletcher nods.
That night, Travis goes to the local Orleans Tavern to decompress. He overhears people talking about the days events, or at least a version of them. He is joined by Jerry Blacklage (Gil Birmingham), Tribal Chief of Police and an old friend. As they talk, Travis sees Bean Dip enter from the corner of his eye. He is joined by two men, a shorter man with long white hair named Reggie (Richard Ray Whitman) and a large Hupa man (Michael Spears) that towers over the rest of the patrons. They seem to be looking for somebody. Blacklage notices that Travis is distracted and says he doesn’t want any trouble tonight. Travis takes a drink of his beer and jokingly says he’s never met trouble a day in his life. He pays for his drink and tells Jerry he will see him around.
Early in the morning, Fletcher wakes up to the sound of Drew making breakfast. He tells them they should eat up as this might be the last big meal they have in a while. Fletcher is confused as he sees Robbie has now re-joined them, who darts his eyes at Fletcher. Drew explains that they don’t have time to waste so they are going to be heading out soon and start their hike to the main show: Heart Attacks. Fletcher asks about Sonny and Drew says that he has a broken nose and should be able to recover but he won’t be joining them for the shoot. Fletcher is hesitant but his ankle has healed up a bit and the pictures are what he came here for. Drew says he will leave a note to let Kendra know where they’re going and then they can head out.
In the woods, Kendra is going through her regular routine of channeling energy, minding her own business.
Fletcher, Drew, and Robbie begin hiking up the California coast towards Heart Attacks, traversing a path that not many dare to as the cliffs are rocky and steep. After hours of hiking, Fletcher feels his age and the walking has taken a toll on his body. He asks them for a brief rest, which annoys the youthful Robbie but Drew abides.
At night, they camp out at a place overlooking the river. They overlook the beach and spot a shark’s fin in the water, prompting Drew to tell a story but not the one about his bite. Instead, it is about how baby shark are born with teeth inside their stomach - indicating that they eat each other in the womb and only the strongest survive. He wonders if that’s a metaphor for humans as well, punctuated with a smile that Fletcher finds slightly menacing. Robbie calls bullshit and gets in his tent. As Fletcher tries to fall asleep, he sees Drew with a personal notebook by the fire and wonders what he is writing in there. He feels a pit in his stomach, as if something’s not right, and approaches Drew with a plan for him to head back to higher land and so he can get a better vantage point. Drew is hesitant, believing that the shots from the water would be best, but he draws Fletcher a map to Heart Attacks and gives his approval.
In the morning, a hungover Travis gets a call from Jerry Blacklage. He tells him to get to Drew Harmon’s place ASAP. When Travis arrives, he finds that part of Drew and Kendra’s home and their entire garage is smoldering with a fire that is going out from a rain. Jerry is already on the scene. Travis asks if anyone was inside and Jerry shakes his head, thankfully. He asks about Kendra and Jerry says they’ve seen no trace but her truck is here. He then shows Travis a note they found that was left by Drew, saying they were going to surf at Heart Attacks. Jerry asks if Travis thinks she went with them and he shakes his head, saying he believes that note is addressed to Kendra. Travis then notes the suspicious figures that they saw at the tavern a few nights ago and worries she has gotten in the crossfire of them. He volunteers to go to Heart Attacks and find out himself if she is with Drew or not. Jerry suggests he send a lieutenant to go with him but Travis says he plans to take his kayak, which only fits one.
Travis retrieves his kayak and begins journey to the Devil’s Hoof, a coastal spot not far from the Oregon border. While he makes good progress initially, he ends up getting caught in some rough waters and eventually loses control, spilling out into the water. He struggles to the nearby rocky shore, where he finds a baseball-sized bruise welling up by his ankle. He looks up to the rocks and cliffs, knowing it will be impossible for him to climb. Is this where his life ends? Alone on the rocky shore of California? As these thoughts occupy his mind, his senses are overwhelmed by a horrid smell. He looks around before finding its source: a bloodied corpse among the rocks with its limbs unnaturally contorted and skull smashed in. While Travis doesn’t want to look, he can’t help but notice the long white hair - reminiscent of one of the seedy men at the tavern.
Hours earlier…
A bloodied and bruised Kendra walks in the forest behind the three men Travis saw in the tavern. The Hupa is leading the charge and in his hand is Drew’s note to Kendra, giving them their destination. Kendra asks if she can excuse herself and Bean Dip says no. The Hupa overrules however and says she has five minutes. He proceeds to cut the back of her ankle with a knife, ensuring that she will not run away. When she is gone, they discuss what their plan is. Reggie suggests they have sex with her in front of her husband. Bean Dip asks if they will kill them, too, and the Hupa says they will decide at the time.
After the men grow impatient, Kendra finally emerges from the woods. However, she is covered in her own blood murmuring to herself. Initially the white-haired man acts tough but begins slowly backing up as he is freaked out. Unbeknownst to him, this eventually leads him to the cliff, where he falls to his death. The Hupa tells that they are going to keep going but Bean Dip, looking over the cliff, says that he’s out and bails on them.
Drew and Robbie are surfing when they spot Travis on the rocks, fading in and out of consciousness. They ask what he is doing out here and he informs them of the fire and Kendra’s absence. Drew insists that she went into town but Travis says her truck is still there and it seems someone found Drew’s note. Drew is devastated to hear this but then sees Travis’s ankle and says he clearly needs help. He lifts Travis onto his back and instructs Robbie to get the boards as they will try to climb up the rocks. Before they do, Travis makes them aware of the fallen corpse.
Meanwhile, Fletcher breathes heavily as he walks through the woods. He seems to be heading away from the coastline, indicating he has bailed on Drew’s shoot. He suddenly stops in his tracks and ducks for cover when he hears a succession of gunshots. After waiting for the commotion to die down, he cautiously approaches the scene and finds a bloodied Kendra outside of a run-down shack. She has a shotgun in her hand and The Hupa’s dead body is on the floor. Fletcher rushes to her aid and asks what happens. She explains that she was kidnapped and being taken to Drew and the surfers to be killed, presumably. He asks if it was just this one and she says one killed himself (accidentally) and the other bailed.
Fletcher proposes they stay the night at the shack and then go to authorities in the morning. He offers to help tend to her wounds and, as they do, they discuss Drew. Fletcher talks about their history and asks if she thinks Drew’s larger-than-life persona is an act. She shakes her head, saying he is a man with a driven personality which some people find intimidating. He asks if she does. There is a lingering silence and says it’s not that that she is fearful of. She’s scared of what she doesn’t know. Fletcher asks what Drew’s secret would be. Is Heart Attacks even real? She shrugs and says that’s the thing: she doesn’t know. There is only one bed in the shack so he says that he’ll sleep on the floor but she says they can both fit. He resists but she insists. As they lay side-by-side, she asks if she can get something off her chest. His heart starts beating faster, not knowing what will come next. She tells him the story of Amanda Jaffey and, as she begins to cry, her suspicion that Drew killed her. Fletcher turns to cradle and comfort her, telling her that is surely not the case. She softly says she is scared. His face shows uncertainty.
Fletcher is jarred awake by Jerry Blacklage entering with a gun drawn. Blacklage asks Fletcher to put his hands up and Fletcher tries to explain the situation, including the bloody scene outside. He looks around and sees that Kendra is not there. Blacklage demands that Fletcher stop talking and handcuffs him. Blacklage asks where Drew and Robbie are and Fletcher says they are probably getting close to Heart Attacks. Blacklage tells Fletcher to lead him there.
As Blacklage and Fletcher approach the shore, they are spotted by Robbie, who alerts Harmon. Drew asks where Fletcher has been, prompting his old friend to raise his handcuffed-wrists. Blacklage notices an injured Travis and goes to help him, noting that he warned him not to go alone. Drew asks what they are waiting for, time to get their pictures. Fletcher turns to Blacklage and asks for a temporary reprieve. The handcuffs are removed and Fletcher gets his camera and surfs out to join Drew and Robbie.
As they paddle out, Fletcher tells Drew he needs to ask him something. Something that Kendra is too afraid to ask. Did you kill Amanda Jaffey? Drew’s head doesn’t even turn, instead his eyes are fixated on the giant waves ahead. You probably didn’t believe me, did you?, he responds. Fletcher asks about what. “That this is real.” He gets up on his board and begins surfing as Fletcher is frustrated by his non-answer. “After all these years, you’ve got to learn to trust me, Doc,” he shouts in the distance.
As Fletcher looks at Drew through the lens of his camera, he realizes that this is it. Heart Attacks. The last mytho surfing spot of the West Coast. The clicking of his camera syncs up with the sound of gunshots as Drew falls from his board and blood begins to pool around him. On the shore, Jerry Blacklage rushes to apprehend the perpetrator before he can cause anymore damage while Robbie looks on distraught. Jerry's heart hurts a bit by finding it to be the shooter to be the young Bean Dip. Fletcher is ready to go help Drew but he cannot find him. The only thing he sees in that vicinity is a shark’s fin, which turns suddenly in Fletcher’s direction. He hurries away and races to the shore, where Blacklage helps him in. Robbie asks about Drew and Fletcher says he’s gone, at the place where legends go to die.
The next day, Fletcher is in a local photography shop getting his pictures developed. He looks at the results from the pictures at Heart Attacks and knows instantly that this unlike anything a surfing photographer as ever captured. He looks at the roll of film from Drew’s last ride just before he was shot and chooses not to get those developed. Those moments will stay between the two of them.
Fletcher visits Travis’s office and says he came to follow up about David Little’s family. He knows that this picture is going to make some money and, who knows, it might get him back into regular gigs. But either way, he wants the money earned to go to the boy’s family. Travis shakes his hand and says he can arrange for that. Before Fletcher leaves, Travis asks if he ever heard anything from Kendra Harmon. Fletcher shakes his head. Travis lights a cigarette and shrugs, as if to say “what can you do?”
Miles away, Kendra is at a Women’s Center that she was taken to after hitchhiking from the shack.
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