Why You Might Like It: Most notably, the acting by all involved is very good and really is the highlight of the movie. Jamie Bell is spot on in the lead role and Josh Lucas is fairly convincing as the villain. There is some really nice scenery in the movie that showcases the South very well and puts you almost into the movie. On top of that, the story isn't bad either which makes for a fairly entertaining watch.Why You Might Not Like It: I would argue there is some odd editing and directing at some points in the film. I found the freeze frames in multiple parts of the film to have little meaning and almost seem forced for no apparent reason. There is also some slow spots in the film that make you wish that the scene would hurry up and play out. These scenes again have some purpose, but not anything immensely important. Some might argue against these points, but I tend to believe they are a couple of the obvious downfalls. Acting/Casting: 6.5* Directing/Cinematography/Technical: 5*Plot/Characters: 6* Entertainment Value: 5.5* Total - 6+5+6+5.5 = 23/4 = 5.75*

Not quite the southern Gothic revival I was expecting from David Gordan Green after watching "George Washington" but not too bad anyway.Two brothers witness their Uncle kill their father, for a set of lost gold coins, and unable to turn to the police, are forced to escape cross country, and encounter many strange and symbolic characters along the way.All and all I wasn't as impressed with Green's stunner of a debut, his trademark writing style is still present "can I carve my smile in your face?", but it's used less here, to the movies detriment. There's some great cinematography as well, the same sense of the beautiful junkyards and backwoods, but the overall story feels kinda contrived. There are some fairy tale-esquire moments, which elevate this above a normal thriller, but a masterpiece this is not.I got the sense when watching this it might be better the next time, or it might be worse. Worth watching for Dave Gordon Green fans, and those interested in beautiful photography of the south, or thrillers in general, but overall it just didn't seem to connect all it threads.

This film is about two young boys having to run for their lives after witnessing a dark family affair.Though this film could have been intense and thrilling, I found it really boring. Though one could say that the slow pacing was used to develop the characters, I think it undermined the film's rush as a thriller. I also found it unconvincing that Deel was able to find the two boys after they boarded the train. Fortunately, Dermot Mulroney is quite believable as a tough father. If it was not for Jamie Bell and Devon Alan's great portrayal of young boys on the run, the film would have been very disappointing. "Undertow" is unfortunately a forgettable film.

Gold coins, betrayal, and murder figure in this story of two young brothers whose lives change forever when their father's brother unexpectedly shows up at their dreary farmhouse in rural Georgia. The older boy (Chris) is your typical rebellious teenager. But he protects and looks after his young brother (Tim), who has some kind of ailment that entices him to eat paint and dirt. Their father (John) is something of a morose deadbeat. Characters spend a lot of time brooding, especially in the first half. This slows the pace of the film way down.The visuals are very, very grungy, and none too flattering to backwoods Georgia. One sequence is set in a huge junkyard, with banjo music in the background. In this film you also get pigs and mud. The cost of production design must surely have been minimal. On the other hand, a lot of the story is set outdoors: a shipyard, a river, brushy thickets, a roofless building where street kids hang out.I'm not really sure what the point of this film was. Maybe it's the old idea that, under certain circumstances, children must fend for themselves when confronted with a crisis caused by greedy adults. In that regard, "Undertow" reminds me of "The Night Of The Hunter". But whereas the 1955 classic was dreamlike and poetic, "Undertow" stresses gritty realism.Acting and editing in "Undertow" are fine, as is the original score. Color cinematography is very good, although the use of freeze frames at odd times tends to be distracting. The film's ending is dramatic but rather ambiguous."Undertow" is a dark, brooding, and very slow-paced film with some good cinematography and acting. Because of its setting and its mood, it likely will appeal to viewers who enjoy Southern Gothic stories.