Herd 2023

Jamie Ellen Adair and Alex Mitzi Akaha are a lesbian couple who set out on a canoe trip through rural Missouri to reconnect after a recent personal tragedy. Their relationship is strained, marked by unresolved grief and tension, and a heated argument pushes them to the point of catastrophe when Alex deliberately capsizes their canoe. The accident leaves Alex with a broken leg, forcing the pair to press on through the wilderness in search of help, relying on each other to navigate the rugged terrain and mounting fear.

As they push toward civilization, they discover a viral outbreak has transformed a large portion of the population into zombie-like creatures known as Heps. The once-quiet countryside becomes treacherous, and every crack of branches or distant shout keeps them vigilant. Stranded and vulnerable, the two women are rescued by a local militia led by Big John Gruber Jeremy Holm, who escorts them to a fortified compound that turns out to be Jamie’s hometown. The abrupt shift from peril in the wild to safety inside the walls of the compound brings a mix of relief and unease.

Inside the fortified enclave, Jamie must confront her past, including a strained relationship with her estranged, homophobic father Corbin Bernsen, who is part of the community. The reunion is tense and loaded with history, casting a shadow over the present as old wounds mingle with new anxieties about survival. While the militia provides medical care for Alex, the compound itself is permeated by suspicion, paranoia, and latent bigotry, revealing a side of human nature that can be as dangerous as the infected.

Meanwhile, a rival militia arrives, led by Sterling Timothy V. Murphy, and tensions flare into violence as resources become scarce and loyalties are tested. The clash between these factions intensifies the pressure on Jamie and Alex, who must navigate not only the threat of infection but also the fraught social dynamics inside the compound. The feeling of confinement clashes with the need to survive, forcing difficult choices that weigh safety against moral compromises.

With the threat of infection looming larger and human conflict escalating, the couple begins to realize that the most immediate danger may come from the cruelty and fear-driven decisions of the people around them, rather than the Heps alone. The realization reframes their ordeal: trust, love, and resilience become their strongest weapons in a world where danger lurks in both the woods and the walls that surround them.

As circumstances spiral, Jamie and Alex decide that leaving the compound is their best chance at true safety. They reject the false promises of power and protection offered inside and set out to carve a path to freedom. Their journey emphasizes quiet courage, shared sacrifice, and the stubborn belief that connection can outlast fear. In the end, they lean on each other to endure the dual threats of a relentless outbreak and a human landscape shaped by suspicion, division, and danger, underscoring a central message about endurance, humanity, and the enduring power of love.