Undertow (2004)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

David Gordon Green

Writers (WGA):

Lingard Jervey (story)
Joe Conway (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 December 2004 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

The Munns, father John and sons Chris and Tim, recede to the woods of rural Georgia. Their life together...

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Family Life | Young Boy | Eating Disorder | Blood

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jamie Bell	...	Chris Munn
Kristen Stewart	...	Lila
Robert Longstreet	...	Bern
Terry Loughlin	...	Officer Clayton
Dermot Mulroney	...	John Munn
Devon Alan	...	Tim Munn
Josh Lucas	...	Deel Munn
Eddie Rouse	...	Wadsworth Pela
Patrice Johnson	...	Amica Pela
Charles 'Jester' Poston	...	Hard Hat Dandy
Mark Darby Robinson	...	Conway
Pat Healy	...	Grant the Mechanic
Leigh Hill	...	Muriel the Cashier
Alfred M. Jackson	...	Dock Worker
William D. Turner	...	Dock Worker

Also Known As:

The Undertow (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (one scene) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | Brazil:16 | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40628) | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Savannah, Georgia, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

Devon Alan's (Tim) monologue about "Chiggars" was not in the script and was totally improvised by the 11 year old.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the black woman they take refuge with is in the bedroom, she finds the contact details of the boys written on the inside flap of the backpack. Later when the boys run away because they find out their uncle is coming, they just run straight from where they were outside, with no detours to pick up the backpack. However, later, Tim is shown with the backpack.

Quotes:

Tim Munn: I miss Dad... and the hogs... and my books... and my shower cap.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Under the Undertow (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Monster in a Canyon

Strange

I watched Undertow at the Stockholm International Film Festival in November 2004. I had previously heard nothing about the film and it was more or less a coincidence that made med watch it. It was a pleasant experience though.

Undertow is about two brothers living with their father in rural America. They live inside the woods since their father wants to keep away from other people. The oldest son, Chris, is a troubled kid almost always in trouble with the law. The youngest son has health problems. One day the fathers brother comes to visit, recently out of prison. He stays for a while before starting a new job. Soon though, there is trouble. Things happen and before long the two brothers are running from their uncle.

The story here is perhaps nothing you haven't seen before at one time or another. But it's well executed and the strange, almost surreal, mood of the film is well maintained throughout. What stands out though in my opinion is the acting. All the main characters are acted very well. Especially Jamie Bell is excellent as the oldest brother. Also Josh Lucas does a terrific job playing the boys' unpleasant uncle.

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece but it's well worth the watch. If for nothing else, then at least for the acting. It was one of the better films i saw at this years film festival, and i feel it's worth recommending. I rate it 6/10.