Synopsis

In 1885 New Mexico Territory, rancher Maggie Gilkeson's teenage daughter is abducted by a ruthless mystic and his gang. Forced to seek help from her estranged father, Samuel Jones, Maggie joins him on a dangerous pursuit across the frontier. As they track the kidnappers, the wounded relationship between father and daughter is tested by violence, fear, and the desperate need to bring the girl home.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was adapted from Thomas Eidson's 1995 novel, *The Last Ride*, with the screenplay written by Ken Kaufman. The production originally used the novel's title before becoming *The Missing*.

• Much of the movie was filmed in New Mexico, including Valles Caldera, Zia Pueblo, Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, and the Cerro Pelon Movie Ranch.

• Chiricahua Apache dialogue was used in the film. Language consultants Elbys Hugar and Berle Kanseah helped the production with pronunciation, cultural details, clothing, and traditional practices.

• Tommy Lee Jones and Eric Schweig studied Chiricahua Apache for their roles. Hugar was also involved with songs used in the film, including a death chant and a healing song.

• Production deliberately incorporated New Mexico's harsh and unpredictable weather. Rather than waiting for ideal conditions, the filmmakers used the changing elements to reinforce the story's severe frontier atmosphere.

• Ron Howard's father, Rance Howard, appears as the telegraph operator, while his brother, Clint Howard, plays the sheriff.

• Val Kilmer makes a cameo appearance. At the time, he was living on a nearby New Mexico ranch and was involved with the state's film-production initiatives.

• The film's use of Apache language was further explored in the DVD featurette "Apache Language School," which includes contributions from the language consultants and members of the production.