Who is the Truck Stop Killer? Is Rebecca (Megan Fox) alive?
Warning: ‘Midnight in the Switchgrass’ major spoilers ahead.
'Midnight in the Switchgrass' is a straightforward Crime Thriller film that puts an FBI agent falling prey to a notorious serial killer. The movie stars Bruce Willis and Megan Fox as Karl and Rebecca, two FBI agents, who team up with Byron Crawford, a Texas Ranger (Emile Hirsch) haunting a bona fide serial killer. The film is based on the true story of the Truck Stop Killer, a brutal serial killer that terrorized Texas in the 70s and 90s.
The film serves as a directorial debut for Randall Emmett, producer of 'The Irishman'. It has received initial mixed reactions. Nonetheless, it is still a decent addition to your Crime Thriller film collection. So who is the Truck Stop Killer, and did Rebecca manage to escape from his chains?
Here's a detailed layout of the film's plot and an exposition of its ending.
'Midnight in the Switchgrass' brings us back to 2004, in Pensacola, Texas. A 16-years-old local Pensacola girl has been reported missing. The sheriff's department launched a search operation when they received another gruesome report. A concrete salesman finds a deceased body of a 20-year-old female near a remote sideroad. There are severe bite marks on the victim's body, a clear sign of assault and murder. Texas Ranger Byron Crawford (Emile Hirsch) identified the victim as Sarah Kellog.
Meanwhile, FBI agent Karl Helter (Bruce Willis) and his undercover partner Rebecca Lombardi (Megan Fox) investigate a sex-trafficking ring on the other side of the city. Rebecca entraps a trafficker (Machine Gun Kelly), believing it to be their target, but they were wrong. They left the place disappointed.
In recent months, there have been several murder cases in Pensacola, believed to be carried out by a serial killer on the loose. Byron found a connection between the disappearance of Tracey Lee Walls and the murder of Sarah with these I-10 corridor murder cases. Byron has been hunting this serial killer for years now but to no avail. During his investigation, Byron crosses paths with FBI agents Karl and Rebecca. Byron told Rebecca that the murder of Sarah Kellogg and the killing of the prostitute at The Oasis Motel are similar to the operation of the Truck Stop Killer. Although, these two killings got done in a hasty and improvised manner. Byron theorized that the killer might have been looking for someone else but ends up killing them.
Rebecca revealed that she had been communicating online with a stranger named “BigRigGlory". They decided to meet at The Oasis Motel, but a pimp spooked the stranger off. Rebecca theorized that the stranger might have met with the prostitute, mistakenly thought she was Rebecca and killed her. Rebecca blamed herself for the prostitute's death.
Believing they are facing a common enemy, the three joined forces to catch the notorious Truck Stop Killer.
Byron and Rebecca came up with a plan to lure the serial killer. Rebecca communicated with the truck driver again. They arranged a meeting at The Handlebar, a crowded bar in Panhandle. While in the bar, Peter Hillborough (Lukas Haas) came to Rebecca and drugged her. Rebecca saw the lightning bolt tattoo on Peter's arm. She tried to alert Byron, but it was too late. The drug has gotten into her system, and The Truck Stop killer kidnapped Rebecca and took her away.
Thankfully, Byron managed to track him down through CCTV footage. He found the freight company that Peter has been working for and discovered his identity. Peter matched the description of the serial killer they have been looking for--- a white man and truck driver in his mid-30s. Byron is convinced that Peter is the same Truck Stop Killer who has been terrorizing Pensacola.
Peter took Rebecca to his house shed, where he also hid another girl named Tracey. Rebecca thinks that Peter will kill Tracey since he now has a replacement. She convinced Tracey to escape. Tracey crawled out of the shed, but Peter's daughter saw her running in the field and alerted him. Peter chased after Tracey, who went to Peter's elderly neighbor for help. Mrs. Cubber hid Tracey in the house and saved her. Peter returned to the shed and started interrogating Rebecca. Amid the scuffle, Rebecca stabbed Peter's heart, and he dropped to the ground. However, Peter managed to pull the chains and choke Rebecca. Rebecca struggled to free herself, finding it harder and harder to breathe. Luckily, Byron came just in time to save her.
After the "breathtaking" incident, Byron visited Sarah's mother and told her about the arrest of her daughter's murderer, fulfilling his promise. He also gave her Sarah's chain necklace, which they recovered from Peter. After so many years, the mystery is finally solved. Byron's relentless struggle has paid off.
'Midnight in the Switchgrass' is based on the real-life story of Robert Ben Rhoades, Texas’ notorious serial killer also known as the Truck Stop Killer. Robert is born on November 22, 1945, and is believed to have tortured, raped, and killed more than fifty women between 1975 and 1990. These numbers are taken based on data about his truck routes and women who went missing during those years and met the profile of his preferred victims. He is now facing a life sentence without parole.
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