Suddenly alone to raise her two children, a woman bred for high society uses her brains and good aim to save the family ranch from a tyrannical cattle baron and his murderous riders.
In UNBRIDLED COURAGE, we meet the Byrne family in 1898, in San Antonio, Texas. Philadelphia sophisticate Audrey Byrne is delighted to be back in a city. Life hasn’t been easy for her since cattle rancher Rory Byrne swept her off her feet and brought her to Byrne Ranch. They’ve agreed it’s time for their children, Emma, 15, and Flint, 8, to get a better education, so they’re planning to sell the ranch and leave Marble Creek for life in San Antonio. The family’s tour is interrupted by a telegram that Rory’s father, Seamus, has been killed.
Heading back to Marble Creek, Rory is thrown to his death in a carriage accident. After burying the children’s father and grandfather, Audrey has to decide what to do. Grieving the loss of Rory, Audrey makes the surprising choice to cancel the sale of the land and sets her mind to learning how to run a ranch. Emma is furious, her dreams of moving to the city crushed. Flint is happy to stay on the family ranch and wants to help however he can.
Garrett Knox is the biggest landowner in the region. He is as ruthless as he is charming. Determined to grow his holdings, he tries to take the ranch off of Audrey’s hands. But Audrey is street smart before there was such a thing. She recognizes a bully and steers clear.
A year later, we find Audrey has kept Byrne Ranch thriving. She’s ready to sell to a German family who will build a mill, creating many new jobs for Marble Creek. Garrett wants nothing to do with progress. He relies on a few well-placed folks in the community to help him block Audrey’s sale. When Audrey calls him out in the middle of Main Street, Garrett changes tactics - and Audrey buys more bullets.
A train robbery brings Pinkerton Detective Beau Hannigan back to Marble Creek, much to his chagrin. Beau grew up here, but he left 10 years ago after a falling out with his father. His disdain for his father is countered by his desire to help Audrey, who he learns is being targeted by the “black riders” - masked men who enforce Garrett Knox’s version of the law.
Beau becomes smitten with Audrey, but her focus is on protecting her children and finding a way to convince Marble Creek’s residents that Garrett Knox cannot be trusted. Things come to a head when the “black riders” show up at Audrey’s door. In a final showdown in classic western style, with her children at her side, the Byrne family pulls together to stop Garrett Knox and reclaim justice for Marble Creek.
Julie Herlocker grew up in the midwest loving movies and tv, greatly influenced by her father’s passion for classic movies and tv shows. She made her way to Los Angeles, and learned the craft of filmmaking on set and in post. As a director, her work leans to female led stories that build tension and take unexpected turns.
Herlocker’s first short film, a dramatic comedy with Dee Wallace, opened the door for her first episodic directing gig on NBC’s Grimm. Her next three short films are thrillers, as is her feature directing debut, The Sintern, a Tubi Original.
Prior to directing, Herlocker was a post producer in episodic television, working closely with remarkable EPs, including Mark Gordon, Steven Spielberg, Aaron Sorkin, Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt.
A graduate of the DGA’s DDI Mentorship Program, Herlocker is currently in the Paramount Directing Initiative for DGA Directors. Based on the feature work she’s developing, she was selected for the inaugural 2024 Alliance of Women Directors’ Rising Director Fellowship. Herlocker lives in Los Angeles, where she and her husband are finishing up raising their four kids with the help of their Boston Terrier, Yogi.
Director - Julie Herlocker
