UNDERTOW is a new, uniquely American thriller from director David Gordon Green Dermot Mulroney plays John Munn, a hardworking father raising two sons, Chris (Jamie Bell) and Tim (Devon Alan), without their mother. John, a hog farmer and taxidermist, keeps his family in an isolated farmhouse in the woods. Chris, the older boy, feels restricted: his father relies on him to do much of the work (Chris’ younger brother Tim is sickly), but Chris knows there’s a world outside the family he’s yearning to explore.
The unexpected arrival of John’s brother Deel (Josh Lucas), just out of jail, further disrupts their fragile equilibrium. Full of charm, swagger and driving a hot car, Deel is also looking to settle an old score. Deel exudes danger, but his brother can’t see it: instead, John offers Deel room and board in exchange for helping out with Chris, Tim and the chores. Chris senses that Deel is trouble, but he also finds his uncle’s fearsome power seductive.
In a flash of violence, Deel’s lust for revenge boils over and shatters the family. The boys barely escape with their lives and a sack of gold coins, family heirlooms their father inherited from his father. Deel is wounded but still strong, determined to find his nephews who have run off with the treasure Deel claims as his own. As the boys navigate the countryside they are free to discover new adventures, but they also encounter new dangers. Chris and Tim discover a hidden pocket of kids who, like them, are alone and living together on the fringes of society. In this new world Chris meets Violet, and they establish a bond. But before long, the brothers’ violent legacy catches up with them, and Violet protects Tim while Chris lures Deel into the ultimate confrontation.