'Lost treasure of jesse james': a familiar but fresh take on missouri folklore

Legend has it that the infamous outlaw Jesse James still has gold buried somewhere deep in a Midwest cave. Columbia filmmaker Adam Boster expands on this local lore with his movie, “Lost Treasure of Jesse James”, a tale full to the brim with action and mystery. Shot completely in mid-Missouri, this coming-of-age story takes inspiration from films like “Indiana Jones” and “The Goonies”.

Doniphan James (Riley Sullivan) is a middle school ne’er do well with something to prove. With the help of his best friends, Jackson (Qailen Chambers) and Hope (Megan Sims), tattletale little brother Cricket (Noah Billington), and the flatulent Pippin (Jaidyn Franz), Doniphan sets out deep in the Missouri cave system to unearth the fabled treasure of Jesse James in order to save himself and his friend’s families from an age-old curse. All the while, town despot (Sage Buchanan) and his group of less-than-bright henchmen are hot on the gang’s trail. 

This movie has something for everyone in your family; horse (and car) chases, shootouts, bank robberies, cute dogs, and an ancient puzzle just waiting to be solved.

While “Lost Treasure of Jesse James” is family friendly, the film also serves as a poignant reminder of the issues that still plague rural Missouri, racism and classism. The kids, while young, are aware of their ancestor’s misdeeds. Jackson reminds his friend Doniphan that Jesse James was not a good man, despite his legendary status, saying, “You know, Jesse James did some pretty bad things. He fought for the South.”

Through the hardships the gang faces in attempt to clear their family names, the film’s message becomes abundantly clear: nothing is more important than the love you share with your friends and family—but a little bit of adventure sure doesn’t hurt.

Watch "Lost Treasure of Jesse James" on GreenLitGo

By Julienne Graebner │ August 14, 2020
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Watch "Lost Treasure of Jesse James" on GreenLitGo.com