Buck Wild

Buck Wild 2013

Directed by

Tyler Glodt

Tyler Glodt

Made by

Test your knowledge of Buck Wild with our quiz!

Buck Wild Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Buck Wild (2013). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.


Craig Thompson is a straitlaced, careful man who sets out on a Texas hunting trip with three companions: Jerry, a mysterious relative from New York; Tom Alexander, a witty, nerdy thinker; and Lance, a hedonist who lives for the moment. Their guide, Clyde, accompanies them to a remote cabin, along with Clyde’s daughter, Candy, who sparks a tense, uneasy energy as she and Lance exchange a charged look in the next room. Clyde warns them not to cross onto the property of Billy Ray, a local gangster, and the group settles in, trying to keep tensions in check.

That night, the dynamics deepen: Lance and Candy share a private moment in the shed, while Clyde’s warning lingers in the air. Craig reveals that he intends to marry his girlfriend, and a growing rift surfaces when Jerry hints that Lance might be having an affair with Craig’s girlfriend. Craig, trying to hold the group together, refuses to believe the accusation, even as unease gnaws at the atmosphere and the trip begins to feel less like a routine hunt and more like a test of loyalties.

During a hunt, Craig is horrified to accidentally shoot Clyde. Clyde survives multiple attempts to finish him off, but Jerry becomes convinced that Clyde is turning into a zombie, insisting they must end his life. Craig remains unconvinced and insists they bring Clyde back to town for help. On the road, they are halted by Officer Shipley, who demands to see the tags on their kill. In the ensuing panic, Jerry knocks Shipley unconscious, only to discover Clyde has vanished from the truck. Tom walks off on his own, and the others retreat to the cabin, where the evening takes another turn: Candy seduces Lance in the shed, and Lance—now aware of Candy’s change—tries to escape but is bitten. Jerry urges shooting Lance in the brain, but Craig again refuses and locks Lance in the bathroom, leaving the group divided and frightened.

Desperation grows when Tom calls for help, and Jerry heads out to rescue him from Billy Ray’s gang, who have been humiliating Tom for sport. Tom and Jerry form a fragile bond as they struggle to escape the gang and the increasingly hostile townspeople who have turned as the infected spread. Meanwhile, Lance’s mood shifts: after ingesting cannabis-laced brownies, he becomes unusually mellow and attempts to help Craig work through his feelings of inferiority. Once the drug wears off, Lance reverts to his primal state, and Craig—now more assertive—decides to end the threat by delivering a fatal headshot. Tom and Jerry return to the cabin, but Jerry forgets to refill the truck’s gas tank, complicating their escape.

A tragic turn follows when Jerry accidentally wounds Tom, who is then dragged away by the zombies and killed. The situation seems hopeless until Shipley appears, only to be overwhelmed and eviscerated by the encroaching horde. Craig and Jerry sprint to Shipley’s cruiser, where a zombie Tom pleads with them not to abandon him. In a tense, awkward moment, Craig apologizes to Tom, and Jerry hotwires the car. They flee, striking a deer on the road, and, in the aftermath, Jerry dryly notes that it was a clean kill. With the last of their courage, they realize they’ve survived enough to call the hunting trip a “success”—even as the danger still lingers beyond the headlights.

Buck Wild Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Buck Wild (2013) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.


Arrival at the remote cabin

Craig Thompson arrives with his companions at a remote Texas cabin where Clyde and his daughter Candy accompany them. Clyde warns them not to cross Billy Ray's property, trying to keep tensions in check as they settle in for a hunting trip. The group dynamics are tense from the start as secret loyalties and expectations loom.

Evening Remote cabin, Texas

Tension in the shed

That night, Lance and Candy share a private moment in the shed, hinting at a shift in power and desire. Clyde's warning about Billy Ray lingers, casting a shadow over the group. Craig reveals he plans to marry his girlfriend, fueling jealousy and suspicion among the men.

Night Cabin shed

Clyde is shot during a hunt

During a hunt, Craig accidentally shoots Clyde, terrifying the group. Clyde survives his injuries but remains a target of fear and suspicion, as Jerry insists Clyde may be turning into a zombie. Craig wants to bring Clyde back to town for help, while others debate what to do.

Night Hunting grounds

Road confrontation and Clyde's disappearance

On the road, Officer Shipley stops them to inspect licenses and kill tags, triggering panic. Jerry knocks Shipley unconscious, and to their shock, Clyde vanishes from the truck. Tom veers off on his own while the rest retreat to the cabin, unsettled by the events.

Night On the road to town

Candy seduces Lance; Lance is bitten

Back at the cabin, Candy seduces Lance in the shed, and Lance, now aware of Candy’s change, tries to escape but is bitten. Jerry urges shooting Lance in the brain, but Craig refuses and locks Lance in the bathroom, fracturing the group. The first cracks in loyalty widen into fear and mistrust.

Night Cabin shed / bathroom

Tom seeks help against Billy Ray's gang

Desperation grows when Tom calls for help, and Jerry heads out to rescue him from Billy Ray's gang who have been humiliating Tom for sport. Tom and Jerry form a fragile bond as they struggle to escape the gang and the increasingly hostile townspeople who have turned as the infected spread.

Evening Billy Ray's town

Escape and the infection spreads

Tom and Jerry manage to escape the gang, but the townspeople grow more hostile as the infections spread. The two of them navigate a brutal environment, trying to survive while the threat outside intensifies.

Night On the road and through town

Lance's transformation after cannabis brownies

Lance's mood shifts after ingesting cannabis-laced brownies; he becomes unusually mellow and tries to help Craig work through his insecurities. Once the drug wears off, Lance reverts to his primal state, turning into a dangerous liability for the group. Craig, now more assertive, resolves to end the threat with a fatal headshot.

Night Cabin

Gas trouble upon returning to the cabin

Tom and Jerry return to the cabin after their escape, but Jerry forgets to refill the truck's gas tank, leaving them with a precarious exit. This oversight foreshadows further peril as the infected and the angry townspeople close in. The group's plans grow more desperate as the night deepens.

Night Cabin

Jerry wounds Tom and the horde closes in

Jerry accidentally wounds Tom, who is dragged away by the zombies and killed. The surviving members confront the collapse of their plans as the horde closes in, forcing them to confront their vulnerabilities head-on.

Night Near the cabin

Shipley is overwhelmed by the horde

Shipley appears to offer help but is overwhelmed by the encroaching horde and eviscerated. The attempt at rescue proves futile as the situation deteriorates, leaving the group more isolated.

Night Road near cabin

Escape to Shipley’s cruiser with Tom pleading

Craig and Jerry sprint to Shipley’s cruiser; Tom, now a zombie, pleads with them not to abandon him. In a tense moment, Craig apologizes, and Jerry hotwires the car to escape. The trio fights through fear to claw a way toward safety.

Night Shipley’s cruiser, road

The deer and the haunted road to a fragile 'success'

They flee down the road, striking a deer with the car, a grim reminder of the new reality they face. Despite the losses, they survive enough to call the hunting trip a 'success' and keep moving forward into an uncertain dawn.

Night On the road

Aftermath and uncertain safety

With danger still looming beyond the headlights, Craig and Jerry reflect on their survival and the cost of loyalty in a world overrun by the infected. The trip ends with hard-won survivors choosing to press on together, aware that danger remains.

Night Road / outskirts

Buck Wild Characters

Explore all characters from Buck Wild (2013). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.


Craig Thompson (Matthew Albrecht)

A straitlaced, careful man who tries to hold the group together. His rational demeanor clashes with others as loyalty, jealousy, and fear come to the surface. He is torn between protecting the group and his relationship with his girlfriend, facing a hard choice as the night unfolds.

🛡️ Leadership 🧠 Rational ⚖️ Moral conflict

Jerry (Jarrod Pistilli)

A mysterious relative from New York whose blunt pragmatism pushes the group toward drastic actions. He grows convinced Clyde is turning into a zombie and advocates aggressive measures, testing the group's limits.

🗡️ Impulsive 🧩 Skeptic 🧭 Survivalist

Tom Alexander (Dru Lockwood)

A witty, nerdy thinker who balances humor with danger. He forms a fragile bond with Jerry as they attempt to escape the gang, but the infected threat and betrayals erode the group’s unity. He is killed by the outbreak during the escape.

🎭 Intellectual 🌀 Tension 🗡️ Protector

Lance (Isaac Harrison)

A hedonist who lives for the moment, his mood swings and cannabis-laced humor mask a dangerous primal side when the drug wears off. He tests Craig's resolve and the group dynamic, becoming unpredictable under stress.

🔥 Impulsive 🧪 Drug-influenced 🧭 Unpredictable

Candy (Meg Cionni)

Clyde's daughter who sparks tension with the group, flirting with Lance and generating charged energy in the cabin. Her presence amplifies jealousy and distrust among the men.

💃 Temptation 🫂 Tension 👀 Distrust

Clyde (Joe Stevens)

The guide and protector who accompanies the group to the cabin. He warns about Billy Ray's gang and then vanishes, leaving the others to grapple with the escalating dangers.

🧭 Guide 🌀 Absence 🧟 Threat

Billy Ray (Mark Leslie Ford)

A local gangster whose territory and gang pose an external threat. His presence intensifies the danger outside the cabin, complicating the survivors' odds.

💼 Gang 👊 Threat

Officer Shipley

A law enforcement figure who interrupts the group’s plans during a tense moment and is overwhelmed by the spreading chaos.

👮 Law enforcement ⚠️ Crisis

Carla (Amelia Meyers)

Craig's girlfriend, whom he intends to marry. Her presence underlines the personal stakes driving Craig and adds tension to the group dynamics.

💑 Relationship 🫂 Stakes

Buck Wild Settings

Learn where and when Buck Wild (2013) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.


Location

Texas, remote hunting cabin

The film unfolds on a rugged Texan landscape centered around a remote hunting cabin and the surrounding woods. Isolation amplifies paranoia and tension among the group as they contend with external threats and internal rivalries. The setting blends rustic frontier atmosphere with sudden crisis as danger encroaches from both the local gang and the infected.

🗺️ Texas 🏕️ Remote hunting cabin 🧟 Zombie outbreak

Buck Wild Themes

Discover the main themes in Buck Wild (2013). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.


🧭

Survival

A hunting trip devolves into a fight for life as external threats collide with escalating internal tensions. Trust is tested, and decisions must be made in the moment to determine who survives the night. The harsh environment forces characters to improvise and confront their own limits.

💔

Tension & Betrayal

Jealousy and shifting loyalties fracture the group. Rumors of an affair and Candy's flirtations push boundaries, inflaming suspicion. The pressure to defend or abandon each other drives confrontations that edge toward violence.

🧟

Infection

The spread of the infected and the collapse of order redraw the line between hunter and prey. Outbreak conditions force brutal choices and test humanity in the face of imminent danger. The crisis reframes the trip from a routine hunt into a fight for survival.

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore the mobile app

Buck Wild Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Buck Wild (2013). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.


In the rolling heat of a remote Texas wilderness, a group of longtime companions sets out for a hunting trip that promises both camaraderie and the thrill of the chase. What begins as a simple escape from everyday routines quickly hints at something far less predictable, as the pristine landscape holds whispers of danger beneath its open skies. The trip’s promise of “a vacation to die for” frames every moment with a mix of anticipation and uneasy anticipation.

The quartet is anchored by Craig, a straight‑laced planner who clings to order even as the world around him loosens. Beside him is Jerry, a mysterious relative from New York whose inscrutable motives add a layer of intrigue to the group’s dynamic. The intellectual Tom brings a nerdy curiosity that often softens the tension, while Lance, the unabashed hedonist, pushes boundaries with a wild streak that both excites and unsettles his friends. Together they embody a spectrum of personalities that clash and complement, setting the stage for a volatile blend of humor, rivalry, and reluctant solidarity.

Beyond the friends themselves, the setting itself feels like a character—a rugged expanse dotted with weathered cabins, winding trails, and the ever‑present hum of unseen wildlife. The atmosphere balances the rustic charm of a classic hunting getaway with an undercurrent of something off‑kilter, hinting that the land may hold more than just game. Mysterious locals, cryptic warnings, and the odd occurrence of unexplained phenomena loom just beyond the firelight, suggesting that the wilderness may not be as tame as the hunters assume.

As the days unfold, the group’s bonds are tested by the unpredictable rhythm of the wild, and the promise of a perfect hunt begins to slip into something more unsettling. The tension between their individual desires and the looming unknown creates a suspenseful, darkly comic tone, leaving the audience to wonder how far the friends will go to survive the trip that was supposed to be nothing more than a weekend of sport.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy