Yellownecks – A Civil War Survival Film of Desertion, Guilt, and Nature’s Fury

Yellownecks is a haunting, atmospheric Civil War survival film set deep within the hostile swamps of the Florida Everglades. This psychological and physical journey follows five Confederate deserters, men united by their decision to flee war—but fractured by fear, guilt, and survival instinct.

Their leader, Sergeant Todd, is a pragmatic soldier burdened by duty yet plagued by uncertainty. He guides the group toward a distant promise: escape via a British blockade runner. Their only hope lies miles away, beyond a wilderness that is as deadly as the war they abandoned.

Among them is a brooding and enigmatic Colonel, whose presence brings both tension and mystery. Once a man of rank and authority, he now walks in silence, haunted by his past and skeptical of the men who follow. As the deserters struggle through snake-infested waters, swarms of insects, and dense underbrush, the jungle itself becomes a character—unrelenting, judgmental, and always watching.

But nature is not their only enemy. Paranoia, resentment, and betrayal grow like mold in the humid air. The youngest of the group, eager for absolution, clashes with an older, hardened soldier whose bitterness poisons every step forward. When whispers of Seminole warriors emerge, fear amplifies, and unity crumbles.

The Colonel, reluctant but resolute, begins to assume a leadership role—not by command, but through silent strength and acts of sacrifice. His moral struggle mirrors that of the others: what does it mean to abandon a war, yet still carry it inside you?

Each character confronts the cost of desertion, the weight of their decisions, and the lies they’ve told themselves to justify survival. One carries a stolen Bible, seeking divine forgiveness. Another dreams of the woman he left behind. One keeps a tally of the men he failed. The war they fled replays nightly in their dreams and daily in their choices.

As they near their promised escape, conflict erupts—not just with the land or each other, but within their own broken identities. A final act of violence leads to irreversible consequences, and only a few remain to witness the rising sun. Their journey ends not with fanfare, but with the cold truth: the real battle was never behind them—it was always inside them.

Yellownecks is a stark, meditative Civil War survival film about cowardice, courage, and what remains of a man once he sheds his uniform. With minimal dialogue, immersive landscapes, and harrowing performances, it delivers a story where victory is measured not in glory—but in the mere act of enduring.