‘Buried in Barstow’ Ending Explained – ‘Buried in Barstow,’ a Lifetime original action-thriller film directed by Howard Deutch, is a dynamic and explosive affair with superb character acting from its broad cast ensemble. Angie Harmon’s nuanced portrayal of no-nonsense female protagonist Hazel, with a dash of humour, provides the film’s driving force. The film can be separated into two halves thematically.
Buried In Barstow, starring Angie Harmon, is the newest Lifetime film, and it falls under the sub-genre of “women take issues into their own hands.” Hazel King (Angie Harmon), the mother of a 19-year-old daughter named Joy (Lauren Richards) and the owner of a diner in Barstow, California. She meets an attractive but broke stranger named Elliott (Kristoffer Polaha), whom she hires at her restaurant when he can’t pay for his meal.
When Hazel was a young new mother, she fled Las Vegas with Joy, leaving her life as a hitwoman behind. Javier, a man who helped her get back on her feet, has become a friend, and she now works with him at her diner. Her experience as a hired killer has given her a set of talents that enable her to use guns and other weapons effectively.
So when she discovers that her daughter’s boyfriend, Travis (Timothy Granaderos), has abused her, she uses her unusual skills to drive him to the desert, beat him, and abandon him. Joy is enraged that her mother would do such a thing, although she still claims to love her boyfriend. Hazel eventually develops feelings for Elliott, but he turns out to be a ruse, having come up at her restaurant as part of a scheme by Hazel’s former boss, Von (played by Bruce McGill), to entice her back into the murder business. It’s Elliott’s job to make sure she completes one last hit job.
Recommended: Is ‘Buried in Barstow’ Based on a True Story?
‘Buried in Barstow’ Ending Explained
Joy has been curious about her father’s identity for a long time, but Hazel refuses to discuss it. However, when we go deeper into Hazel’s biography, we gain an indication of Joy’s father’s identity. As soon as Hazel arrives in Von’s office, he sends her to meet Perry Gamble. In the city, Hazel encounters Perry in a casino. We have a feeling Perry Gamble has something to do with Hazel’s disappearance in Las Vegas. Perry Gamble and Hazel were clearly in love, as seen by their dialogue, which put Hazel’s life in jeopardy.
When Perry asks Hazel why she left the city, she suspiciously responds that if she stayed, she would not live to be thirty. On the first night, Hazel spikes Perry’s drink, but he has to leave to see his Chinese investor, Mr. Chen, before he can finish it. Perry reschedules the meeting himself, and Hazel agrees to reschedule under duress.
However, in the dying seconds, she gets an epiphany and understands that Perry will not be her last job. If she helps Von with one work, he will ask her to help him with more. Von also believes that Hazel owes him eternal debt because he rescued her from the streets while she was high on drugs.
As a result, Hazel eventually abandons Perry, leaving behind an envelope. Joy’s photo is in the envelope, and “Ours-H” is written on the back. As a result, we come to the conclusion that Perry is Joy’s father. Perry’s enraged wife arrives at the suite immediately after Perry receives the mail, so it’s for the best.
Hazel, on the other hand, is off to see Von one last time. Hazel’s departure was caused by Von, not Perry, because she knew the gangster would put Joy’s life in jeopardy. And judging by what happens subsequently, Hazel’s revenge for Von appears to be excessive.
Is Hazel King Alive or Dead At the End of the Movie?
After assaulting Phil, Hazel shoots Von in the head. With the gatekeeper, her death toll now stands at three. Hazel returns to her Bridges Diner after putting an end to the cartel once and for all. We believe the story has come to a close, with Hazel firing a bullet through the brain of her adopted father, Von.
At the end, however, we’re in for another surprise. Since Hazel comes out on the street to watch a gang member beating up Javier (after offering shelter to the homeless pregnant girl whom he claims to be his cousin), it appears that Javier is also in gang jeopardy. Hazel kicks the attacker in the face in an attempt to save Javier.
Hazel’s strength, on the other hand, is no match for the other, powerful individual. Meanwhile, the assailant that Hazel kicks to the ground pulls out a revolver and begins firing bullets. They leave with Javi in the car, leaving Hazel fatally wounded on the road. However, at the end of the movie, Elliot appears to have regained control of the situation. Elliot is a cardiac surgeon, after all, and he understands how to deal with such situations.
We don’t know for sure if Elliot is a doctor because he was a former associate of Von’s. But, for the most part, he comes across as a trustworthy individual. We believe Hazel still has life in her as he asks her to trust him. The film ends on a cliffhanger, but a “to be continued” keeps the audience guessing. However, another question remains unanswered in the meantime.
You can stream ‘Buried In Barstow’ movie on Lifetime channel.
