Red (2008 film)  Red is a 2008 American thriller film based on a novel by Jack Ketchum and directed by Trygve Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee. It concerns one man's revenge after his beloved dog dies in an attempted robbery. The screenplay was written by Stephen Susco based on the novel. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. Avery "Ave" Ludlow, a storekeeper, has a dog named Red, a gift for his 50th birthday from his late wife, Mary. One day, fishing at a lake with Red by his side, three boys come across his path: brothers Danny and Harold McCormack, and their friend Pete Doust. Danny threatens Ave with a shotgun and demands money. When Avery says he has only $30, Danny becomes furious and shoots Red dead. Ave visits a gun store, where the clerk identifies Danny as the shotgun purchaser based on a description. Ave visits Danny's father, Michael, and tells his story. Michael calls his sons, and asks them if they shot Red. They deny it, and Michael tells Ave to leave. Ave decides to ask for a prosecution and talks to his lawyer, Sam Berry. Sam discourages him by saying that the penalty is low, but Ave persists. Sam arranges a meeting between Ave and a reporter named Carrie. Carrie tells him that publicity would prompt official action. Ave agrees and gives a human-interest television interview to Carrie. However, the story fails to get attention, and Carrie is transferred to another story. Ave switches to pursuing a civil lawsuit for damages. A rock with a threatening messsage is thrown through his window. Carrie asks Ave about his family; he tells her his elder son was mendacious, and was thrown out of the Navy due to mental illness. One day, he returned home and asked his mother for money. She refused, and he assaulted her. Thinking he had killed her, he then set fire to his brother and mother with kerosene. The brother died while Mary survived for five days in a coma. Ave begins following the boys. Harold sees Ave watching them and, remorseful, apologizes. Ave says he would like Danny to do likewise. One day, Danny is playing baseball with friends and becomes frustrated after striking out, leaving the game in anger. Ave follows him and parks behind his car. Danny confronts him and, needled by Ave, tries to hit him with his bat. Ave avoids the blow and knocks Danny down; Ave points out that, as Danny attacked in daylight and with witnesses, he should watch his temper, saying the beating Ave has given him is one his father should have given.