Watch The Hudson Tribes

The Hudson Tribes is a drama film released in 2016, directed by John Magary, and written by him, Russell Harbaugh and Myna Joseph. The movie tells the story of estranged brothers and the different paths they take in their lives, leading them to confront their past, their family, and themselves. The movie is set in the city of Hudson, New York, where the two brothers, Nick and Conrad, grew up together. The film opens with the introverted Nick (Owen Campbell) returning to Hudson after being away for a long time. He has been living in a mental institution and is released to the care of his well-intentioned mother, who wants him to integrate with society again. However, Nick struggles to adjust to the world outside the institution and bristles at his mother's attempts to reconnect him with the family he barely knows.

On the other hand, Conrad (Godfrey), Nick's charismatic and successful younger brother, keeps busy with his upscale art gallery, glamorous girlfriend Vanessa (Vanessa Rubio), and his otherwise impeccable life. Conrad is trying to ignore his past, especially the traumatic event that led to him and Nick becoming estranged.

As Nick tries to find his footing in the world, he falls in with a group of young street hustlers who roam the gritty Hudson downtown. Among them is Hannah (Zelda Adams), a free-spirited and tough girl who takes an interest in Nick and tries to connect with him. Through Hannah's eyes, we see the despondency and vulnerabilities of the people the town has left behind, while Conrad and Vanessa enjoy a life of privilege surrounded by art and high-end culture.

The tension between the brothers is evident throughout the movie, and their relationship comes to a head in a tense exchange at Conrad's gallery opening. The incendiary situation leads to a reckoning between the brothers about their past and their future, and about how each of them is dealing with the aftermath of their shared trauma.

The Hudson Tribes is a movie that deals with a variety of themes, including family ties, addiction, trauma, love, and the scars of life. It is a study of the human psyche, showing the different ways people deal with stress, rejection, and loss. The movie is not about happy endings, but rather about the everyday struggle to find meaning and purpose in one's existence, while coming to terms with one's history and the world that surrounds us.

The movie's strength lies in its character-driven storytelling, and the performances of the ensemble cast. Owen Campbell delivers a nuanced portrayal of Nick, capturing his confused and fractured personality, while Godfrey shines as the confident and self-assured Conrad, who harbors his own fears and insecurities beneath his exterior. Vanessa Rubio brings a smooth presence as the love interest, Vanessa, and Zelda Adams is a revelation, imbuing the character of Hannah with depth and humanity.

Overall, The Hudson Tribes is a poignant and thought-provoking film, giving us a glimpse into the lives of people in a world that is both beautiful and brutal. With John Magary's assured direction, the movie is a testament to the power of independent cinema, showing us that sometimes the best stories are those that aren't afraid to embrace the unvarnished reality of the human experience.

The Hudson Tribes is a 2016 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.