‘East of Wall’ – Movie Review From a Local
‘East of Wall‘ Movie Review: A Black Hills Native’s Take from Venice, FL
By: Scott Prentice
As a lifelong resident of the Black Hills and Badlands, where the pines meet the prairie, I’ve got a deep love for the land and stories of South Dakota. Watching East of Wall at a theater in Venice, FL, on August 15, 2025, felt like coming home, even 1,800 miles away, the rugged hills and fierce Badlands I know like my own heartbeat was calling me home. Directed by Kate Beecroft and starring Black Hills cowgirls Tabatha and Porshia Zimiga alongside Hollywood stars Scoot McNairy and Jennifer Ehle, this Sundance Audience Choice Award winner is a raw, real slice of my home. Here’s my take as an artist, photographer and a Black Hills native on why East of Wall is a must-see.
A Story That Paints the Badlands Soul
East of Wall is set in Oelrichs, a tiny town in Fall River County, South Dakota—population 113, per the 2020 census, just a speck on the map 20 miles east of the Badlands National Park, where eroded buttes and spires carve a landscape that’s as tough as it is beautiful. The film follows a horse trainer wrestling with financial strain and buried grief while mentoring a group of wayward teens. It’s fiction, but it’s got the soul of the Black Hills—early mornings, branding season, 100 head of cattle, and 50 horses kicking up dust under wide-open skies.
Growing up in the Black Hills and Rapid City, 60 miles north of Oelrichs, I’ve driven those lonesome roads past Wall Drug, Wasta and through the Badlands countless times. As an artist, I’ve sketched the sharp lines of those buttes and painted the golden light of a prairie dawn. East of Wall captures that same raw beauty, like a canvas come to life. Who’d have thought a place like Oelrichs, barely a blip near the Nebraska border, would shine on the big screen? Director Kate Beecroft, a California outsider, didn’t just visit—she lived it. She spent three years with Tabatha Zimiga, learning to ride horses and bottle-feed colts in a ranch living room, crafting a story that feels like it was etched in Black Hills stone.
A Cast That Carries the Land’s Spirit
The cast is a mix of South Dakota grit and Hollywood polish, and it works. Tabatha Zimiga, a real-life rancher, owns the screen with a presence that feels like the Black Hills Badlands itself—unyielding, proud, and true. Porshia Zimiga brings the same fire, while Scoot McNairy (Argo) and Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty) blend in like they’ve been herding cattle their whole lives. Locals Jesse Thorson, Chancey Ryder Witt, and Clay Pateneaude add heart, their roots in the soil giving every scene weight.
As an artist, I see the Black Hills and Badlands in every frame—the way the light hits the plains, the way dust swirls like a brushstroke. Beecroft’s story is personal to me: she stumbled into Oelrichs on a pandemic road trip, took a wrong turn, and met a woman who said, “Go east of Wall and find Tabatha.” When she did, Tabatha greeted her with, “You here to see some real cowgirl shit?” That’s the Black Hills spirit—bold, unfiltered, and fiercely authentic. Beecroft learned the land, just like I did growing up, and her direction makes you feel the weight of every sunrise and struggle.
Why It Hits Deep, From Rapid City to Venice
Watching this in Venice, FL—a coastal town of about 26,000 known for its beaches and artsy vibe—I felt the Black Hills calling me back. The film’s heart, about carrying on through grief and guiding kids who’ve lost their way, speaks to anyone who’s fought to keep going. The Badlands, with their stark, sculpted beauty, frame the story like one of my own paintings, each scene a study in resilience. The soundtrack, featuring country-pop star Shaboozey (a Tabatha Zimiga favorite), adds a modern kick that had me nodding along.
Sundance saw the magic, giving it the Audience Choice Award, and Sony Pictures Classics brought it nationwide. As a Black Hills native, I’ve always known our stories are worth telling—whether it’s the miners I met in Deadwood or the ranchers I sketched near Sturgis. East of Wall proves it, showing the world what makes our corner of South Dakota special, even from a theater in Venice, FL.
The Trailer That Brings It Home
Check out the official East of Wall trailer below. It’s a glimpse of the Black Hills’ heart and the story that’s got me, a native, prouder than ever:
A Black Hills Story for Everyone
This film made me proud to call the Black Hills and Badlands home, even as I sat in a Venice, FL, theater surrounded by palm trees. It’s a story for anyone who loves the land, whether you’re from Rapid City, Sioux Falls, or Florida’s Gulf Coast. If you’re in Venice, catch it at local spots like AMC or Regal. For those visiting South Dakota, drive through Oelrichs, see the Badlands National Park 20 miles west, or stop at Wall Drug, 70 miles north, for a taste of the real thing.
Call to Action: Grab tickets for East of Wall at a Venice, FL, theater or nationwide via Sony Pictures Classics or Fandango. Share your thoughts with #EastOfWall on social media, and for more Black Hills stories, visit x.ai/grok for exclusive content.