Jacob McNeely (Hopper Penn) works for his meth-King father Charlie (Billy Bob Thornton) who rules his section of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. Jacob is barely being paid while his father hordes all the cash in his safe. His mother Virgie (Robin Wright) returns after getting clean. Rogers (Jackie Earle Haley) is the corrupt sheriff. Jacob is obsessed with Maggie (Katelyn Nacon) and needs money to help her family.
The premise is basic and feels derivative. I don't mind it, but I do question Ben Young's directions. It feels stale. A lot of this rests on the shoulders of relative unknown Hopper Penn, son of Sean Penn and Robin Wright. Of course, he's trying to act. I'm not sure that he's leading man material especially after this movie. I don't know if it's deliberate, but he's giving an almost blank performance. In a way, it fits his character. Jacob is a weak loser. That's the only reason why he would suffer under his father for so long. I don't know if Hopper is ever going to be more than a minor actor. Maybe he can do more with a different role.
The premise is basic and feels derivative. I don't mind it, but I do question Ben Young's directions. It feels stale. A lot of this rests on the shoulders of relative unknown Hopper Penn, son of Sean Penn and Robin Wright. Of course, he's trying to act. I'm not sure that he's leading man material especially after this movie. I don't know if it's deliberate, but he's giving an almost blank performance. In a way, it fits his character. Jacob is a weak loser. That's the only reason why he would suffer under his father for so long. I don't know if Hopper is ever going to be more than a minor actor. Maybe he can do more with a different role.