Undertow

The South is a strange place characterized by bad teeth, pet hogs, and really bad teeth. Add to that a 10-year-old who feasts on paint and a deranged uncle just out of prison with revenge on his mind and you've got the makings of a somewhat interesting story. John Munn (Dermot Mulroney) is singularly raising his two sons in self-imposed isolation, when his erratic brother, Deel Munn (Josh Lucas), shows up to spoil the party. Tensions gradually mount until a vicious fight erupts, culminating in Dad's gory neck-slashing. With no other options, the two boys decide to get the hell out of dodge, taking with them their father's treasured gold coins. Too bad for them Uncle Deel (Josh Lucas) wants those nuggets, too, and sets out after his nephews on what quickly degenerates into a drawn-out game of tag. Too bad for us the swamps of rural Georgia swallow this tale of family revenge whole. Except for a few random acts of extreme violence, Undertow's sluggish pace doesn't waver and is as convincing as the character's garbled Southern accents. Don't come back now, ya hear?!