Undertow

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

2004 1h 48m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 141

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

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

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

fuboTVSubscription

MGM+ Amazon ChannelSubscription

PhiloSubscription

MGM Plus Roku Premium ChannelSubscription

Cast

Jamie Bell
Chris Munn
Josh Lucas
Deel Munn
Dermot Mulroney
John Munn
Devon Alan
Tim Munn
Kristen Stewart
Lila
Robert Longstreet
Bern
Terry Loughlin
Officer Clayton
Eddie Rouse
Wadsworth Pela

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: David Gordon Green
Writers: Joe Conway, David Gordon Green, Terrence Malick
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by David Gordon Green, shot by Tim Orr. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Philip Glass. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Zene Baker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jamie Bell and Josh Lucas and Dermot Mulroney carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Hear me now brother. I was washed in the same blood as you.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0360130 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

David Gordon Green directs. Tim Orr behind the camera. Philip Glass scores. Zene Baker cuts. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 22 years ago.
2International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
3Directed by David Gordon Green, shot by Tim Orr. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Philip Glass. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Zene Baker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jamie Bell and Josh Lucas and Dermot Mulroney carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Hear me now brother. I was washed in the same blood as you.".
8IMDB entry: tt0360130 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 18 themes, including "river", "runaway", "uncle", "dysfunctional family".

The technical file

Cinematography: Tim Orr
Original score: Philip Glass
Editing: Zene Baker
Production design: Richard A. Wright
Costume design: Jill Newell
Sound: Larry Blake
Stunt coordinator: Cal Johnson
Runtime: 108 min · 1h 48m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $156,767
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Undertow (2004)

Also by

David Gordon Green

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2019-11-22
★ 7/10
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-

Production companies