A pair of inquisitive adolescents encounter a charismatic drifter with an incredible story in this drama from Take Shelter writer/director Jeff Nichols. Mississippi adolescents Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) are exploring along the mighty Mississippi when they stumble upon a small island inhabited by Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a desperado who claims to be on the run from brutal bounty hunters after killing a man in Texas. According to Mud, his true love Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) is awaiting his arrival in town, and together they plan to make a daring escape. Fascinated, the two boys agree to help Mud slip past his pursuers, despite the potential dangers of doing so.

Jack Bishop lives the life of every man’s dream with his beautiful wife, Amaya, and a healthy daughter, Toby. He has the career he always wanted and a loving home in a peaceful Texas border town. But it is no coincidence that Jack’s life seems perfect. His past hides from himself. When Toby goes missing, Jack knows his past has come back to haunt him. He knows the only way he can find her is to use the powers of his long forgotten faith, La Santa Murte, protectors of the sinner, the worshippers of the dead. Accompanied by the insecure newly-appointed sheriff and a pair of wary FBI agents, Jack’s search takes him deep into his past, to a psychic who visualizes Jack’s secret in terrifying detail, to the squalid barrios and seediest brothels in Mexico City’s underbelly. But the power of the La Santa Muerte is stronger then he ever imagined, as it reaches out to touch his family and reveals an even darker and unexpected web of lies and deceit.