How would the situation in the movie ‘Hell or High Water’ have played out IRL?

9 comments

1. Of course not, they could have sold meth.

2. Maybe tell us…literally anything about the movie.

3. Robbing a bank is literally never someone’s “only option”.

4. No. It’s just a plot device to give them a reason to rob banks. IRL, if they were sitting on an oil trove and couldn’t pay off the mortgage in time they have plenty of other options. Like…going to another bank. Banks will lend you money if you have assets.

5. It’s a work of fiction (good movie though)

6. Never saw the movie

7. Definitely not the only option, but they were desperate and on a tight deadline. Also the older brother mostly knew what he was doing (he just got too cocky). So this was a quick and easy way to get the money. Other options could have taken more work and/or a longer time.

   I’ve heard some make the claim that people choose the best option they see available to them even if it’s a bad one. Perhaps this applies to the brothers in the movie.

8. Given their time limit and the fact that they wanted to get back at the bank that gave their mother the reverse mortgage, yes.

9. They weren’t just motivated to raise money quickly. They also wanted revenge on a bank they saw as predatory towards their mother.

   I wouldn’t say it was the only option they would have had if it was based on real life, but it’s not unrealistic either.