If you’re hunting for a gripping, emotionally powerful film to watch over the Christmas period, Broke could be the perfect pick. This contemporary western drama has already earned critical acclaim, boasting a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and blends heart‑pounding survival tension with a deeply human story of regret, perseverance, and self-discovery.

Running just 1 hour and 40 minutes, it’s an ideal choice for viewers looking for a thoughtful, intense cinematic experience during the holidays, something that goes beyond the usual festive fare. Broke follows True Brandywine (played by Wyatt Russell), a bareback bronc rider whose rodeo career is slipping through his fingers.

Once full of fire, True now labours under the weight of injuries, mounting health issues, and the creeping dread that his best days are behind him.

He clings to the saddle, even though his body and spirit are breaking down.

The fragile balance of his life is shattered when a freak spring blizzard hits.

Trapped in the wilderness, alone and wounded, True must battle not only the elements but also his own physical and mental demons.

Hypothermia, illness, and the bitter sting of regret test him in ways he never imagined. As he fights to survive, he flashes back to the choices and relationships that brought him to this point, including his tense bond with his father (Dennis Quaid) and the woman he loves, Ali (Auden Thornton).

Critics have singled out Russell’s performance for its raw emotional honesty, and director Carlyle Eubank’s steady hand in weaving together survival drama with deeply personal reflection.

The cinematography, particularly the sequences of the storm and the open, snow‑blanketed plains, reinforces the stark, unforgiving beauty of True’s world. These visual and narrative contrasts make Broke as much a psychological journey as a physical one.

One audience member summed up the sentiment: “This movie is a masterpiece, a brutal, beautiful ride into the heart of a cowboy’s soul.”

While survival is the surface story, Broke runs much deeper. It is about identity, perseverance, and the cost of holding on. True’s ordeal is not just against nature, but against time, regret, and the long shadows cast by his past. 

Broke is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime Video for £3.49.