Caught by the Roots

MARTHA, a resilient former Marine turned struggling single mother, is racing against time, both literally and emotionally. On the way to a custody hearing, her truck spins out in a brutal crash, leaving her severely injured and amputated below the knee. Ten months later, fitted with a high-tech prosthetic and fueled by quiet determination, she’s ready to reconnect with her three children, rebellious teen CLAIRE, innocent ZOE, and eager little ADAM, who’ve spent the past year under the care of her wary ex-husband. What begins as an awkward reunion quickly sets off a deeply personal quest for redemption. In an effort to bridge the emotional chasm with her kids, Martha takes them on a hiking trip into the lush, untamed expanse of a forest. There, they encounter SANI, a native elder, a trail keeper whose quiet wisdom and ancestral rituals hint at forces beyond logic. Martha, driven by love but still grappling with the guilt of absence, tries to prove herself, not just as a capable parent, but as someone worthy of her children’s trust. But Claire’s simmering resentment threatens to sabotage every attempt, and the wilderness soon reveals its own dangers. When Adam slips and falls over a cliff, left hanging by a cluster of roots, Martha must summon all her strength, skill, and maternal instinct to save him. In a powerful role reversal, Claire steps in to help, repurposing straps and even Martha’s prosthetic to rig a rescue. Their emotional and physical struggles intertwine, until Martha leaves to seek help, unknowingly putting her daughters in even greater danger. Left alone, Claire fends off two lost hikers whose intentions turn violent. With Zoe’s help and the timely arrival of XOLO, a retired K-9, they hold them off until PATEL, Sani’s mute assistant, and Martha return. As they descend together, a bear ambushes them, triggering a final fight for survival. Martha, Patel, and Xolo fend off the attack with Sani’s help, forcing the predator to retreat. Martha solely leaps, with guidance, she doesn’t just save her son, she reclaims her family. What began as a custody trip becomes a crucible of resilience and healing. Once defined by what she lost, Martha proves that motherhood isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.