Adam Seidel’s Anywhere is a roughneck indie thriller blending crime, betrayal, and small-town tension into a tightly wound story. A crime of passion spirals into a relentless chase where every choice carries consequences.
John (Joshua Burge) arrives home early and discreetly tucks cash into his secret stash. He discovers something unexpected—a pair of bus tickets bearing the names of his wife, Syd (Hayley McFarland), and his brother, Cody (Ryan Francis). Confusion gives way to a furious clarity as John realizes the obvious: his unfaithful wife and scheming brother have plans to skip town together.
Tension intensifies when John asks Cody to stop by. John confronts him, giving him a chance to tell the truth. The proposition is, at this time, “a man must choose between light and dark.” John knows his marriage with Syd is slipping away. Cornered, Cody shrugs, admits the affair, and mocks him. In a flash of controlled rage, John pulls out his rifle—killing Cody and sealing his own fate.
When Syd returns from work, John initially tries to address their already-strained marriage. But he quickly tells Syd that Cody is in the bathtub. She stands in shock at the sight of Cody’s body bleeding out in the tub. Syd, desperate, finishes the grisly job, ensuring there’s no body, no proof. She buries him in a secluded spot, abandons the car, and hitchhikes home.
“…John realizes the obvious: his unfaithful wife and scheming brother have plans to skip town together.”
Anywhere delivers a surprisingly delightful indie thriller where you have no idea where the plot is going next. It all starts with a crime of passion and a very sympathetic protagonist in John, paired with an underestimated wife in Syd, who is a fascinating femme fatale with an irresistible girl-next-door vibe.
The story takes an intriguing turn when the pair decides to skip town to avoid interactions with Sheriff Rose, who is investigating the disappearance of Cody. It becomes a small-town investigation, where the Sheriff is barely a step behind our heroes on the run.
It then takes a delightful turn when the couple rents an apartment from a guy named Wade, played beautifully by Sean Gunn. Like many of the other characters, his motivations are murky from the start. Let’s just say when you take the dark path, misfortune will always follow.
Where Anywhere succeeds is its character development. Each character is distinct in personality, with clear motivations driving the story forward. It’s a lot like Fargo in that you have a small-town game of cat and mouse going on, but unlike Fargo, all of the characters are grounded—odd but not comedically quirky. It works because we can identify with every character, which means you’ll be engaged from start to finish.
With its sharp character work and unpredictable plot, Anywhere keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s a dark, twisty ride with a haunting final message.
"…a dark, twisty ride..."
