You know those movies that just feel like a Sunday afternoon? Our Wild Hearts is exactly that. It isn't some high-octane blockbuster with $200 million in CGI. Honestly, it’s a quiet, rustic Hallmark-style drama that relies almost entirely on the chemistry of its leads. What makes the Our Wild Hearts movie cast interesting—and what most people totally miss—is that it wasn't just a group of actors hired by a casting director. It was a family project.
Ricky Schroder didn't just star in this. He directed it. He co-wrote it. He basically willed it into existence as a vehicle for his daughter, Cambrie Schroder.
Most people remember Ricky as the adorable kid from The Champ or the heartthrob in Silver Spoons. But by the time 2013 rolled around, he was looking for something different. He wanted to tell a story about a girl and a mustang, sure, but he really wanted to work with his kids. That’s the "secret sauce" here. It’s why the dialogue feels a bit more natural than your standard TV movie. They weren't just pretending to have a father-daughter dynamic. They actually lived it.
The Core Players: Breaking Down the Our Wild Hearts Movie Cast
Let’s talk about Cambrie. At the time, she was a newcomer. Playing Willow, a city girl who travels to the mountains to find the father she never knew, could have been a disaster in the hands of someone without that specific real-world connection.
She wasn't just "acting" rebellious or curious; she was reacting to her real father on screen. It’s kinda fascinating to watch. You can see the genuine facial tics and the way they interrupt each other—things that are hard to script.
- Ricky Schroder (Jack): He plays the rugged, slightly standoffish cowboy father. Jack is a man of few words, which fits Ricky’s later-career vibe perfectly. He’s moved far away from the "New Kids on the Block" look of his youth into something much more weathered and believable as a rancher.
- Cambrie Schroder (Willow): This was her debut. She carries the emotional weight of the film. Since then, she’s pivoted more into the fitness and lifestyle world (Fit with Cambrie), but here, she was just a teenager finding her footing in front of the lens.
- Angela Lindvall (Katie): She plays the mom. Lindvall is a high-fashion icon, seriously. If you follow modeling, you know her from Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. Bringing a supermodel into a gritty-ish Western drama was a bold choice, but her ethereal presence contrasts well with the dusty ranch setting.
Then you have the supporting players. Luke Cosgrove plays Braxton. He’s the love interest, but thankfully, the movie doesn't lean too hard into the romance tropes. He’s there to ground Willow's experience. You might recognize Cosgrove from the TV series The Mist. He has that classic, boy-next-door quality that works well in these "fish out of water" stories.
Why the Casting Matters for the Vibe
Most movies in this genre feel like they were shot on a backlot in five days. While Our Wild Hearts was definitely a quick shoot, the location and the cast give it a sense of place.
They filmed in Agoura Hills and Malibu, California. It looks like the wild West, even though it’s basically in LA’s backyard. The cast had to actually handle horses. This wasn't "green screen" riding. When you see the Our Wild Hearts movie cast interacting with Bravo (the mustang), that’s real sweat and real dirt.
It’s actually quite rare to see a film where the lead actor is also the father of the lead actress and the director. Usually, that’s a recipe for an ego-driven mess. But Ricky Schroder has been in the business since he was a toddler. He knows how a set runs. He cast his other kids, too! Luke and Holden Schroder show up in the film. It’s basically the Schroder family home movie, just with a much higher production budget and a distribution deal with Hallmark.
The Professional vs. The Personal
There is a nuance to the performances that comes from this setup.
Think about the scene where Willow first meets Jack. There’s a palpable awkwardness. In a typical movie, an actor would try to "play" awkward. With Cambrie and Ricky, there’s an underlying comfort that they have to actively suppress to make the characters feel like strangers. It’s a reverse-acting challenge.
Eloise DeJoria is another name you’ll see in the credits. She plays Barbara. If that last name sounds familiar, it should—she’s married to John Paul DeJoria, the billionaire behind Paul Mitchell and Patrón. She’s a staple in these types of independent, heart-centered films. Her presence adds a layer of "Western royalty" to the ensemble.
Is it just a "Horse Movie"?
Well, yeah. But the cast elevates it.
The search intent for people looking up this cast usually stems from a "Where are they now?" curiosity.
Cambrie didn't stay in traditional acting. She became a massive fitness influencer.
Ricky became more involved in documentary filmmaking and, occasionally, the news for his personal life and activism.
Luke Cosgrove moved on to bigger TV projects.
The film serves as a time capsule. It captures a specific moment in 2013 when the "Family Western" was seeing a huge resurgence. Shows like Heartland were blowing up, and Our Wild Hearts tapped into that same vein. It’s about the struggle of the American mustang, sure, but the cast makes it about the struggle of reconnecting with family.
Common Misconceptions About the Production
One thing people get wrong is thinking this was a big-budget theatrical release. It wasn't. It was always intended for the home market and television.
Because of that, the acting is tailored for the small screen. It’s intimate. There are lots of close-ups.
Also, people often ask if the horses were "actors" too. In a way, yes. The mustang in the film, Bravo, is central to the plot. The cast had to spend weeks training with the animals before the cameras even started rolling. You can’t fake that kind of comfort level with a horse. If an actor is scared of a 1,200-pound animal, the audience sees it in their eyes immediately.
Chris Massoglia also appears as Reed. You might remember him from The Vampire's Assistant. He adds a bit of professional polish to the younger side of the cast. Having a few experienced "child stars" on set likely helped Cambrie navigate her first big role.
What You Should Take Away
If you’re going to watch it—or rewatch it—pay attention to the background characters. The ranch hands and the locals give the movie its texture.
The Our Wild Hearts movie cast succeeded because it didn't try to be Yellowstone. It didn't try to be gritty or violent. It stayed in its lane as a heartfelt, family-oriented story.
The chemistry isn't manufactured.
It’s literal.
When Jack looks at Willow with a mix of frustration and pride, that’s a real dad looking at his daughter. That kind of authenticity is hard to find in the era of over-produced streaming content.
Actionable Steps for Fans of the Genre:
- Check out Cambrie Schroder’s current work: If you liked her performance, her "Fit with Cambrie" programs show a lot of the same discipline she had to use for the horse training in the film.
- Look into Mustang Conservation: The movie highlights the plight of wild mustangs. Organizations like the American Wild Horse Campaign deal with the real-life versions of the issues Jack and Willow face.
- Explore Ricky Schroder’s early work: To appreciate his performance here, watch The Champ (1979). Seeing him as a child actor helps you understand the "old pro" energy he brings to the set of Our Wild Hearts.
- Watch for the Schroder brothers: Try to spot Luke and Holden in their cameo roles; it’s a fun "Easter egg" for fans of the family.
- Support Indie Westerns: Films like this rely on VOD (Video on Demand) and physical sales. If you enjoy the genre, look for titles produced by similar independent outfits rather than just the big streamers.
The movie might not have won an Oscar, but it won a very specific, loyal audience. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the best way to make a movie about family is to just use your own.