Buried In Barstow(2022)|| Was It Cancelled?

I was pretty invested in this film because of its solid premise, good performances and that feeling that the protagonist's quiet life was about to explode. But when it ended with a “To Be Continued,” I lost my thrill. Even now, after digging around, I can’t find a trace of a sequel. No announcement, no release, nothing. Was the movie canceled? Did budget constraints kill the continuation? Or maybe it was always meant to stay unresolved. Either way, the lack of follow-up makes that ending frustrating.

Synopsis(possible spoilers)

Hazel (Angie Harmon) was once a hit woman. She leaves that life, raises her daughter Joy (Lauren Richards), and runs a BBQ diner in Barstow, trying to stay under the radar. But past enemies, secrets, and danger pull her back again. There’s Elliot (Kristoffer Polaha), a stranger who comes into her life with mysterious ties, Travis the abusive boyfriend, and the constant tension of being someone Hazel used to be but wants no part of anymore.

What I really liked about Joy (Lauren Richards) in the film is how she’s not just an accessory to Hazel’s story. She has a personality. You see her struggle, her loyalty and vulnerability; she's more than just “the daughter in near danger.” After the movie, I looked her up because I wanted to know more about her, you know the more the internet has to offer but that’s where I hit a wall, because Joy (Lauren Richards) doesn’t have much online presence besides some Instagram photos, I couldn’t find a solid biography or interview or anything to help me connect outside the movie.

What Frustrated Me About the Ending

The “To Be Continued” at the end felt more like leaving the job halfway than building suspense. Viewers are left with unanswered questions like “what will Hazel do now? What are Elliot’s true motives? Is Travis still a threat? Will Joy be safe?

As far as I can tell, none of those threads have been picked up. There’s no sequel, at least none that I know of, no announcement, no follow-up movie or series. It’s almost like the story stops because the makers forgot to hit “resume.” That lack of closure undercuts some of the tension the movie builds so well up until that point. You expect the danger, the secrets, the showdown, but instead you’re left stuck on “almost.” The frustration aside, I still root for Hazel. She’s a good mother.

This movie had a lot going for it with its premise, characters and tension. But it should’ve done better if the director really paid attention to closure in the script, or at least given us some sign that the story would pick up again. The cliffhanger only works if there’s a promise of continuation; without that, it feels like an awkward freeze.

Rating: 6.0 / 10

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