DramaThriller

Undertow

- Hear me now brother. I was washed in the same blood as you.

The Munns, father John and sons Chris and Tim, recede to the woods of rural Georgia. Their life together is forever changed with the arrival of Uncle Deel, though the tragedy that follows forces troubled Chris to become a man.

Release Date : 2004-10-22

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : ContentFilmSunflower Productions

Production Country : United KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : The Undertow

Cast

Character Name : Chris Munn

Original Name : Jamie Bell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Deel Munn

Original Name : Josh Lucas

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Munn

Original Name : Dermot Mulroney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tim Munn

Original Name : Devon Alan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lila

Original Name : Kristen Stewart

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bern

Original Name : Robert Longstreet

Gender : Male

Character Name : Officer Clayton

Original Name : Terry Loughlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wadsworth Pela

Original Name : Eddie Rouse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amica Pela

Original Name : Patrice Johnson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hard Hat Dandy

Original Name : Charles 'Jester' Poston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Conway

Original Name : Mark Darby Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grant the Mechanic

Original Name : Pat Healy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Muriel the Cashier

Original Name : Leigh Higginbotham

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dock Worker

Original Name : Alfred M. Jackson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dock Worker

Original Name : William D. Turner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jacob

Original Name : Michael Bacall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Violet

Original Name : Shiri Appleby

Gender : Female

Character Name : Violet's Friend

Original Name : Carla Bessey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gus

Original Name : Damian Jewan Lee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grandfather

Original Name : Bill McKinney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Old Shirtless Man

Original Name : Michael Gulick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Watch-Guard

Original Name : David Blazina

Gender : Male

Character Name : Big Bad Cop

Original Name : Carlos DeLoach

Gender : Male

Character Name : Milk Man

Original Name : George Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Newscaster

Original Name : H.G. Green

Gender : Male

Character Name : Retardoe

Original Name : Jesse Scott Nelson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bridegroom

Original Name : Craig Zobel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mail-Order Bride

Original Name : Sophia Lin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tattoo Girl

Original Name : Anne Marie Dove

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grandmother

Original Name : Thelma Louise Carter

Gender : Female

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

***Haunting and surreal Southern Gothic is nigh post-apocalyptic*** Two boys living with their father (Dermot Mulroney) in rural Georgia near Savannah (where the film was shot) try to eke out a living off the land. Chris (Jamie Bell) is about 16 and Tim around 10; both manifest their grief over their dead mother and the challenges of their destitute isolation in different ways: Chris gets in trouble with the law while Tim strangely seems preoccupied with consuming non-edible items. Their father's brother (Josh Lucas) comes to visit and seems affable enough, but there's a wild, sinister glint in his eyes. No wonder, he's inwardly frothing with hostility and greed. David Gordon Green's "Undertow" (2004) is a bit reminiscent of Terrence Malick's "Days of Heaven" (1978) in that both are realistic dramas focusing on youths in rural areas and both offer a dreamy viewing experience. Each tries hard to enchant with their movie magic. Unlike "Days," however, "Undertow" is rooted in Southern Gothic. Of the two, I favor "Undertow." After viewing the director’s awesome "Snow Angels" (2007), easily one of the greatest dramas ever filmed, I decided to give this one, his previous film, another chance. I'm glad I did because "Undertow" is the type of movie that improves on repeat viewings. But these types of arty flicks aren't for everyone. Those bred on modern blockbusters will likely find "Undertow" dull, meandering and pointless. I myself wasn't all that impressed the first time I watched it. I didn't hate it; I just didn't "get" it. I'm glad I gave it a second (and third) chance, however, because "Undertow" succeeded in pulling me in under its spell. You just have to be in the right mode for a film of this ilk. The "dreamy" quality noted above is facilitated by Philip Glass' mesmerizing score that plays during the opening and closing credits. It's simple and repetitive, but spellbinding. I've gone to the credits a few times just to enjoy this brilliant piece. Being a Southern Gothic drama/thriller, "Undertow" has a cool Southern ambiance with focus on the rural underbelly. Other films that are successful in this regard come to mind: "The General's Daughter," "Ode to Billy Joe," "I Walk the Line" (with Gregory Peck, 1970), "Mississippi Burning," "Squirm," "The Man in the Moon" and "The Skeleton Key." If you have a taste for these types of films, including the aforementioned "Days of Heaven," you'll likely appreciate "Undertow." The difference with “Undertow” is that it concentrates so exclusively on pastoral paucity that it cops a poetic post-apocalyptic ambiance. The film runs 1 hour, 48 minutes. Kristen Stewart has a small role in the first act. GRADE: B/B-