***SPOILERS***This film is based (loosely) on a true story, though the wikipedia page at least shows no evidence of the brutal kidnapping that is the tension of the movie. The real Stephen Meek led a thousand pioneers off of the Oregon trail through the high desert, because of rumors spreading of native American attacks planned on the trail. the venture was a folly, killing dozens of people and a huge portion of their cattle. The diaries of the pioneers record…