Tread Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Small-town bureaucracy pushes a guy so far past his limits he just builds a massive armored tank-dozer and decides leveling buildings is the best way to file a complaint.

🍿 Tread: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Small Town Welder’s Grievances

The film introduces Marvin Heemeyer, a seemingly ordinary master welder living in the small mountain town of Granby, Colorado. Interviews with residents, friends, and those who had conflicts with Heemeyer paint a picture of a man who felt increasingly wronged by the local government and figures of authority. These disputes centered around zoning issues related to his muffler shop and land use.

Escalating Conflicts and Building Resentment

Heemeyer’s frustration grew as his attempts to resolve the issues through official channels failed. He perceived the town council and certain business owners as a ‘good old boys club’ actively working against him. This prolonged conflict led to a deep-seated resentment and a desire for what he saw as justified retaliation against those he believed had ruined his business and life.

The Secret Project: Fortifying the Bulldozer

Driven by his grievances, Heemeyer began a clandestine project: fortifying a large Komatsu bulldozer. Over months, he encased the machine’s cab in layers of concrete and steel, creating an impenetrable fortress. This armored vehicle was designed to withstand bullets and explosives, making it an unstoppable force.

The Rampage Begins

On June 4, 2004, Heemeyer unleashed his fortified bulldozer on Granby. The sixty-three-ton machine systematically targeted buildings belonging to the town government, businesses, and individuals he held responsible for his troubles. The rampage caused extensive destruction across the town.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Self (archive footage) (Marvin Heemeyer): The master welder who, driven by perceived injustices, fortified a bulldozer and went on a destructive rampage through Granby.
• Self – Sky-Hi News Granby 1979 – 2007 (Patrick Brower): A local journalist who covered the events extensively and provides historical context and perspective on Heemeyer.
• Self – Grand County Undersheriff 1993 – 2004 (Glenn Trainor Jr.): A former law enforcement official who recounts the difficulty and danger of responding to the fortified bulldozer.
• Self – Marv’s Former Girlfriend (Trisha MacDonald): Marvin Heemeyer’s former girlfriend, offering personal insights into his personality and changes over time.
• Self – Owner, Mountain Park Concrete (Cody Docheff): The owner of a concrete plant built near Heemeyer’s shop, representing one of the businesses targeted in the rampage.
• Self – Thompson & Sons Excavation (Larry Thompson): A member of the Thompson family involved in the dispute with Heemeyer and whose property was targeted during the rampage.
• Self – Granby Town Board 1979 – 1999 (Casey Farrell): A former member of the Granby Town Board, offering insight into the local government’s interactions with Heemeyer.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Marvin Heemeyer (audio recording): “When you visit evil on someone, believe me, it will be visited on you.” – Said as part of his extensive audio recordings explaining his motives and belief that his actions were a form of divine justice.
• Marvin Heemeyer (audio recording): “God had given me a mission.” – Stated repeatedly in his recordings, indicating his belief that his rampage was guided by divine will against those he felt had wronged him.
• Stuart Spencer: “He just spent too much time alone.” – Offered by a friend as a simple explanation for Heemeyer’s deteriorating mental state and isolation leading up to the event.
• Glenn Trainor Jr.: “There was absolutely nothing we could do to stop it.” – A law enforcement officer describing the helplessness police felt as their weapons and tactics proved useless against the armored bulldozer.

💰Box Office

• Budget:
• Domestic Gross: $36,527
• Worldwide Gross: $36,527

💥 Tread Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, ‘Tread’ is one of those documentaries that just sticks with you. I remember hearing about this ‘Killdozer’ thing when it happened, but this film really takes you inside it. Getting to hear Marv Heemeyer’s own recordings while seeing the damage felt incredibly real and unsettling. It’s crazy to hear all the different sides – the town folks feel wronged, but you also hear how Marv felt pushed beyond belief. It makes you think about small-town politics and what happens when someone feels like they have no other options. The footage of the bulldozer itself is just wild; you can’t believe how much damage it did and that nobody else was killed. Even though the ending is obviously tragic, it’s hard not to feel conflicted after watching this. It’s not just a simple good guy/bad guy story, and the documentary does a good job of showing you why. Definitely worth watching if you’re into true crime or stories about things getting incredibly out of hand.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of true crime documentaries”
  • “Viewers interested in social justice and ‘little guy vs. system’ narratives”
  • “People fascinated by unusual historical events”
  • “Those interested in small-town dynamics and conflict”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depiction of property destruction”
  • “Discussion of suicide and mental distress”
  • “Potentially disturbing archival footage and audio”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized: “”Tread” is a gripping, albeit disturbing, look at the Granby rampage. The film masterfully uses Marv Heemeyer’s own tapes, contrasting his chillingly calm narration of vengeance with the chaotic destruction. It’s a deep dive into the volatile mix of perceived injustice and simmering rage in a small-town setting. While not excusing the violence, it provides a fascinating, albeit unsettling, portrait of a man driven to an extreme act.
• Synthesized: “Paul Solet’s documentary ‘Tread’ effectively captures the bizarre reality of the Killdozer incident. By weaving together local interviews, archival footage, and Heemeyer’s chilling audio recordings, the film presents a complex picture without resorting to easy answers. It highlights the polarizing impact of the event and the enduring debate over Heemeyer’s motives, whether ‘righteous anger’ or mental breakdown. A thought-provoking watch.
• Synthesized: “This documentary tackles a truly unbelievable event. ‘Tread’ succeeds in showing the sheer, unstoppable spectacle of the armored bulldozer rampage. However, its attempt to balance perspectives can feel disjointed, leaving viewers to wrestle with whether Heemeyer was a victim or a madman. The strength lies in the raw footage and interviews, but the narrative doesn’t always coalesce into a clear message, mirroring the confusion of the event itself.

Audience Reactions

Hearing Marv Heemeyer’s own words from his tapes was chillingly fascinating.: Many viewers felt the documentary did a good job of presenting multiple perspectives, even if it didn’t always take a definitive stance. The sheer spectacle of the armored bulldozer and the resulting destruction was a major point of discussion.

The film highlights the intense dynamics and potential for conflict in small towns.: A common sentiment was empathy for Marv Heemeyer’s feeling of being wronged by a ‘good old boys club,’ although his extreme actions were widely condemned. The debate over whether he was mentally ill or just pushed too far was frequent.

The footage of the rampage itself is unbelievable and captivating.: Most viewers were amazed that nobody else died during the rampage and were fascinated by the ingenuity (and destructiveness) of the ‘Killdozer’ machine itself. The film’s pacing and use of real footage combined with interviews was often praised.

Overall Consensus: A well-made and engaging documentary that presents the complex story of Marvin Heemeyer and his bulldozer rampage, leaving viewers to ponder the causes and consequences of this bizarre and tragic event.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Marvin Heemeyer spent over a year secretly fortifying the Komatsu D355A bulldozer, adding layers of steel and concrete up to a foot thick in places, making it impervious to small arms fire and resistant to explosives.”
• “The armored bulldozer weighed approximately 60 tons, double its original weight, making it extremely difficult to stop once it was in motion.”
• “Heemeyer installed multiple cameras connected to monitors inside the cabin, along with a fan system to clear dust from the camera lenses, allowing him to see outside after welding the armor plating shut.”
• “The rampage coincided with the day Ronald Reagan died, which significantly overshadowed the news coverage of the Granby event.”
• “Law enforcement attempted various methods to stop the bulldozer, including over 200 rounds of ammunition, explosives, and even a backhoe, but none were effective against the vehicle’s armor.”

🖥️ How to Watch Tread?

The documentary ‘Tread’ explores the infamous ‘Killdozer’ incident. While specific streaming availability can change, documentaries like this are often available on major platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. You can typically find options to rent or purchase the film digitally through services like Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, or YouTube Movies. Check these platforms for current availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Tread, you might like these similar films:

• Falling Down (1993): Explores a man who is pushed to his breaking point by societal pressures and perceived injustices, leading him on a violent rampage, similar to Heemeyer’s motive.
• Killdozer (1976): While a fictional TV movie based on a different story, its title and premise of an unstoppable, malevolent bulldozer resonate directly with the nickname and event depicted in ‘Tread’.
• Bowling for Columbine (2002): A documentary examining the roots of violence in America, touching on themes of isolation, fear, and the proliferation of weapons, offering a broader societal context relevant to the Granby incident.
• Joker (2019): Depicts an isolated individual who feels failed and wronged by society, leading him to lash out violently, mirroring the psychological breakdown and revenge aspects of the ‘Tread’ story.
• Duel (1971): A minimalist thriller centered on a protagonist being relentlessly pursued by an unseen driver in a large, menacing vehicle (a tanker truck), capturing the fear and unstoppable nature associated with Heemeyer’s bulldozer.

🛒 Tread Related Products

• Die-Cast Bulldozer Model (1:50 Scale): A highly detailed miniature replica of a bulldozer, perfect for display. Features realistic tracks and movable blade.
• Killdozer: The True Story of the Bulldozer Rampage: An e-book or physical book offering an in-depth account of the Marvin Heemeyer story, often written by local journalists or historians.
• True Crime Documentary Collection (Digital): A curated bundle or streaming access to documentaries exploring other bizarre or high-profile true crime events and the motivations behind them.
• Small Town, Big Problems T-Shirt: An unofficial fan t-shirt with a humorous or thematic design referencing the small-town conflict central to the movie’s plot.

🎧 Soundtrack

Tread features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title – Tread” – performed by William Ryan Fritch
• “The Fabric of Granby” – performed by William Ryan Fritch
• “Preparing the Machine” – performed by William Ryan Fritch
• “Moment of Impact” – performed by William Ryan Fritch
• “Aftermath and Reflections” – performed by William Ryan Fritch

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

TREAD ON THEM

Curious about the ‘Killdozer’ event from a unique perspective? This video from Brandon Herrera dives into the details and I think his commentary really makes you think about the different angles of the story.

Steel Rampage: The Story of the Killdozer #killdozer #shorts #documentary #tread

Just want a quick, gripping rundown of the ‘Killdozer’ incident before or after watching the movie? This short clip gives you the essential facts fast, and honestly, it’s pretty intense how much it covers in just a minute.

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