In rural Texas, high schooler Jimmy West (Ryan Phillippe) lives under the iron-fisted, abusive control of his father, Ray (John Savage), a paranoid Vietnam War veteran whose combat injuries left him impotent. To maintain control over his family and hide his impotence, Ray forces Jimmy into coerced sexual contact with Kate (Nastassja Kinski), who is presented to the community as Ray's wife. Jimmy endures the abuse and forced physical contact to protect his two younger brothers, whom Ray claims are Jimmy's biological offspring. As Jimmy tries to pursue a normal life with his girlfriend Traci (Jenny Lewis), long-buried dark family secrets, systemic abuse, and revenge catch up with the household.