John Cusack, John Goodman, and L.Q. Jones star in this thoroughly compelling Western that explores the complexities of the pursuit of justice—and the problems that come with pursuing it at all costs.

In 1889, an idealistic horse trader named Myrl Redding, his wife Cora, and their son, Cash, live in the Wyoming Territory that’s right on the verge of statehood. He’s got an ingrained sense of right and wrong and believes he has the right to live freely and demand justice whenever necessary.

As he sets out to sell his horses at the local market, he must take a road that leads through his neighbor’s ranch. Henry Ballard doesn’t like Myrl’s support of Wyoming statehood or the way he pushes back against Ballard’s open corruption and land-grabbing ways.

On this day, Redding discovers that Ballard is enforcing a toll of $10 to cross a road that’s on his land. Redding complains that the toll is too high, and he can’t pay it. Ballard suggests he leave behind two black stallions as collateral and Redding reluctantly agrees, leaving Billy, his Crow Indian ranch hand, there to watch over the horses and make sure they aren’t mistreated.

After Myrl sells his horses at the market, he returns to Ballard’s land to find his two horses beaten, emaciated, and nearly worked to death. Billy was also beaten and run off the ranch. Myrl is outraged and demands that Ballard pay him to nurse his horses back to health and give him money for his beaten ranch hand. Ballard flatly refuses and Myrl vows that he will not rest until justice is done.

When Myrl sues Ballard, his case is thrown out—since Ballard is best buddies with the Judge overseeing the case. Nobody will stand up and help Redding get justice…and when tragedy strikes, Redding heads out on a mission to get justice in any way he can.

Ballard is corrupt and used to buying his way out of trouble. But he didn’t count on this nobody horse farmer to pursue his vendetta with such a singular passion. He’s like a cross between a Jack Russell terrier and a pit bull—because once he gets something in his jaws, he just can’t let go.

For his part, Redding will doggedly pursue justice at any price…but will the final cost be too great even for him?