Sequoia 2014

Drama

Comedy

Romance

Rank

#24,851

Runtime

86 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Andy Landen

Made by

Honora Productions

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Sequoia Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Sequoia (2014). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Riley Aly Michalka records her visit with her doctor, Sean Hood who plays Dr. Morton, so her absent mother will know Riley has stage 3 oral cancer with a 10% chance of survival.

On a bus to Sequoia National Park, Ogden Dustin Milligan offers to drop her off after their chance encounter, and just before she exits his car, she kisses him.

Earlier the same day, Riley’s sister, Van Sophi Bairley, tries to sneak out to meet Riley but totals the car. Van reluctantly tells their father, Oscar Todd Lowe, that Riley is in Sequoia with lethal drugs.

Furious, Oscar phones his ex-wife and Riley’s mother, Bev Joey Lauren Adams, who shows no sympathy toward Riley’s latest “staged drama.” Bev’s new partner, Steve Demetri Martin, is equally unsympathetic. Steve and Bev, motivated to finalize Oscar and Bev’s divorce papers, agree to drive Oscar and Van to Riley’s location—just after Steve drives them all to his interview first.

Back at the hotel, Riley listens to Van’s voicemail and is upset to learn that Van won’t be joining her on her last day.

In the morning, Ogden finds Riley at the hotel’s pool where she shows him the effects of her oral cancer. He stays with her and also obliges to take her to the peak, the ironically named Hanging Rock.

It is not until Riley and Ogden reach a blocked road that she reveals to him that she’s taken lethal drugs and is running out of time. This frustrates them both. She steals his car and drives away leaving him behind, but Ogden, having memorized her phone number from earlier, calls and promises that he’ll stay with her until the end wherever she wants to go. Reunited, Riley teaches Ogden how to film her last moments but in doing so, they also film each other exploring and enjoying the park. During a brief rainstorm, they retreat to the car and Ogden plays the mandolin and sings an original song to her.

Afterwards, Ogden films Riley from afar as she approaches the Sherman Tree (General Sherman Tree), a tree believed to have healing powers. There, she meets Colin Lou Diamond Phillips, a man with AIDS who prays to the tree, by telling it his disease, why he wants to live, for how many years, and what he promises to do if he gets his wish. Riley doesn’t ask for a specific number of years but she does ask to live to help Ogden’s songwriting.

Riley then collapses, but Ogden manages to drive her to the peak for her final moments. When Riley’s family arrives, they see Riley peacefully lying on Ogden’s lap.

Riley’s parents watch her videos in a hospital waiting room. Riley wakes up and Van asks her to stick around until Van is at least 18. The film ends with all of Riley’s family bickering, but reunited. While her family bickers, Riley receives a call from Ogden who sings her new lyrics to his song from earlier.

Sequoia Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Sequoia (2014) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Riley records her cancer diagnosis for her mother

Riley records her visit with her doctor so Bev, her absent mother, will know she has stage 3 oral cancer with a 10% chance of survival. The footage is meant to communicate the gravity of her illness and set the emotional stakes for what follows.

Doctor's office

Van's car accident and family alarm

Earlier that day, Van tries to sneak out to meet Riley but totals the car. She reluctantly tells their father, Oscar, that Riley is in Sequoia with lethal drugs, triggering a tense family response.

Earlier that day Family home

Family plan to reach Riley

Bev and Steve join Oscar and Van on a drive toward Sequoia to locate Riley, partly to resolve the situation and to help with the looming divorce papers. The trip foreshadows the chaotic effort the parents make to reach her before it’s too late.

Later that day Road to Sequoia

Riley meets Ogden on a bus near Sequoia

Riley meets Ogden on a bus and they decide to split up at a nearby stop. They share a kiss before he offers to drive her to a rendezvous in the morning, but Riley declines so she can meet her sister the next day.

Bus near Sequoia National Park

Riley goes to her hotel and films her overdose

Back at the hotel, Riley listens to messages and then goes to her room to take a lethal dose of drugs, which she also records on video. The act confirms her desperation and shapes the film’s emotional core.

Hotel room

Morning revelation at the pool

In the morning, Ogden finds Riley at the hotel pool and sees the visible effects of her cancer. He stays by her side and agrees to take her toward Hanging Rock to spend her remaining time together.

Morning Hotel pool

Blocked road and deadly truth

As they travel, they reach a blocked road and Riley reveals she has taken lethal drugs and is running out of time. The revelation heightens tension and tests their bond.

Morning Blocked road near Hanging Rock

Riley steals the car; Ogden commits to staying with her

Riley steals Ogden’s car to keep moving toward her destination, and he memorizes her phone number so he can promise to stay with her until the end wherever she wants to go.

Morning On the road near Hanging Rock

Reunited and filming last moments

Reunited, Riley teaches Ogden how to film her last moments and the two film each other as they explore and savor the park. Their bond deepens as they capture memories they’ll never fully share with others.

Daytime Sequoia National Park

Rain, song, and a final car retreat

During a brief rainstorm they retreat to the car, where Ogden plays a mandolin and sings an original song for Riley. The moment blends tenderness with the impending goodbye.

Rainstorm Inside the car in the rain

At the Sherman Tree and a stranger's prayer

Ogden films Riley from a distance as she approaches the General Sherman Tree, and Riley meets Colin, a man with AIDS who prays to the tree, explaining his disease and his wish to live.

Later that day General Sherman Tree

Riley collapses and is taken toward the peak

Riley collapses, and Ogden drives her toward the peak for her final moments. The journey to the climax is marked by a quiet, intimate struggle between life and death.

Late day Hanging Rock peak

Family arrives and Riley is found with Ogden

Riley’s family arrives and finds her peacefully lying in Ogden’s lap, signaling a fragile peace among them after the turmoil. The moment merges grief with gratitude for the time they had together.

Shortly after collapse Hanging Rock / park area

Hospital waiting room and a hopeful ending

In the hospital waiting room, Riley’s parents watch the videos she created. Riley wakes briefly, Van asks her to stay until she’s 18, and the family is reunited as Ogden calls with new lyrics for his song.

Ending / after recovery Hospital waiting room

Sequoia Characters

Explore all characters from Sequoia (2014). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Riley (Aly Michalka)

Riley is a young woman facing stage 3 oral cancer who records her visit with her doctor to inform her mother. She travels to Sequoia with a mix of fear, resolve, and stubborn hopeful energy. She uses film to capture her last moments and to assert agency over her story, even as time runs short. Her evolving relationship with Ogden reveals a longing for connection and meaning.

🥀 Illness 🎬 Filmmaking ❤️ Relationships

Ogden (Dustin Milligan)

Ogden is a compassionate aspiring musician who meets Riley on a bus; he supports her, helps her explore the park, and participates in filming her moments. His loyalty is steady as time dwindles, and he becomes a creative partner in documenting her final days. He stays by Riley's side, offering warmth, humor, and music as a form of solace. Their evolving bond provides a beacon of human connection amid the illness.

🎶 Music 🤝 Companionship 🌄 Road trip

Bev (Joey Lauren Adams)

Bev is Riley's mother, a pragmatic, emotionally distant figure who prioritizes practicality over sympathy. She shows little empathy for Riley's illness and pushes to finalize the divorce, reflecting a conflict between family duties and personal relief. Her stance creates tension within the family and underscores the film's exploration of love and obligation.

💔 Family 🗂️ Divorce 💬 Communication

Steve (Demetri Martin)

Steve is Bev's partner who accompanies the family to Riley's location to finalize the divorce papers. He approaches the situation with practical, strategic thinking and a willingness to push the plan forward. His role highlights the film's themes of estrangement and the complexities of adult relationships.

🗞️ News 🧭 Strategy 💬 Divorce

Oscar MacGrady (Todd Lowe)

Oscar is Riley's father, furious and protective, who mobilizes others to locate Riley. His anger triggers conflict within the family but also motivates action to bring the family together again. He embodies the tension between parental protectiveness and the pain of a fractured family.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family 😡 Anger 🕊️ Reconciliation

Van (Sophi Bairley)

Van is Riley's sister who tries to meet Riley and, at times, acts as a bridge between her parents' conflict and Riley's wishes. She endures a car accident while attempting to help and shows protective concern for her sister. Her presence adds a sibling perspective to the story's themes of family and care.

👧 Sibling 🚗 Accident 🫶 Protection

Colin (Lou Diamond Phillips)

Colin is a man with AIDS who prays to the General Sherman Tree for healing, sharing his hopes and what he would do if granted more years. He represents resilience and faith in the face of illness and becomes a quiet counterpoint to Riley's journey through the park's sacred spaces.

🌳 Nature 🙏 Faith 🤲 Hope

Sequoia Settings

Learn where and when Sequoia (2014) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Sequoia National Park, Hanging Rock, General Sherman Tree

Sequoia National Park in California provides the backdrop for Riley's final days. The park's ancient sequoias, including the Hanging Rock and General Sherman Tree, create a sense of timelessness that contrasts with Riley's limited time. The natural surroundings become a sanctuary where she and Ogden share moments of reality, art, and connection.

🌲 National Park 📍 California 🧭 Outdoors

Sequoia Themes

Discover the main themes in Sequoia (2014). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🫀

Mortality

Riley's diagnosis and the decision to document her journey shapes the film's meditation on mortality. The act of filming her illness gives her voice and a record of her perspective as time ticks away. The story explores what remains meaningful when life nears its end and who she wants with her in those final moments. The intimate scenes confront the fragility of life with honesty.

🤝

Connection

Relationships become Riley's lifeline as she leans on Ogden and her family. The bond forged through vulnerability and shared artistry offers hope amid despair. Ogden's loyalty and willingness to stay close transforms moments of surrender into something bearable. The film emphasizes that connection can give life meaning even in the face of loss.

🌲

Nature as Sanctuary

The Sequoia landscape frames Riley's experience, offering a space to reflect on life beyond medical walls. The park's monumental trees and open skies serve as symbols of endurance and memory. Through the scenes in nature, the characters find peace, music, and a chance to say goodbye. The film suggests that nature can provide a quiet, enduring context for processing life and death.

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Sequoia Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Sequoia (2014). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the soaring expanse of Sequoia National Park, a quietly intense drama unfolds beneath the whisper of ancient redwoods. The film follows a young woman confronting the relentless weight of a terminal diagnosis, whose planned journey to the wilderness takes an unexpected turn when a chance meeting with a wandering traveler offers a fragile thread of connection. The setting itself feels both a sanctuary and a mirror, its vast vistas amplifying the intimacy of personal despair and the tentative hope that can emerge from nowhere.

Riley records every moment of her dwindling days, a private archive meant for a mother who remains distant and a family frayed by years of unspoken tension. Her sister Van and their father Oscar linger on the periphery, each grappling with their own sense of helplessness and the looming inevitability of loss. These strained relationships create a subdued undercurrent of familial conflict, hinting at unresolved histories that color every interaction. The film’s tone balances melancholy with moments of stark honesty, allowing the audience to feel the weight of Riley’s choices without ever spelling them out.

Enter Ogden, an easy‑going traveler whose path intersects with Riley’s at the very moment she is poised to make a final decision. His presence introduces a gentle, almost accidental companionship that challenges the isolation she’s cultivated. Through quiet conversations and shared silences, the two characters begin to navigate the thin line between surrender and perseverance, each offering the other a different perspective on how to face an uncertain horizon.

The story weaves together themes of mortality, the yearning for agency, and the bittersweet beauty of a landscape that seems to hold its own answers. As the characters linger among towering trees and mist‑draped cliffs, the film invites viewers to contemplate the paradox of seeking solace in a place where life feels both fleeting and immeasurably vast.