This is an upsetting and difficult story centering on a troubled family living in a remote area of the Eastern United States. Following a mother's incarceration for shooting her husband in a small town, a young man must put his education aside to care for his three younger sisters, one of whom is causing considerable trouble. A nearby woman also begins to attract his attention. "Back Roads," released in 2018, presents a somber psychological drama with elements of crime and a feel akin to Southern Gothic literature. Although the story unfolds in Western Pennsylvania, it could realistically take place anywhere in the Eastern United States or even Canada. Filming occurred in St. Francisville, Louisiana, located about thirty minutes north of Baton Rouge along the Mississippi River. The film evokes comparisons to movies like “Mud,” "Joe," "Winter's Bone," “Undertow,” "Snow Angels,” “Monster’s Ball” and “The Fugitive Kind.” It sticks with you in a negative way because it confronts unpleasant subjects and explores painful feelings, and the overall tone is consistently bleak. If you believe your own family experienced dysfunction, prepare to witness something far worse. However, if you consider the film carefully and notice the subtle hints, everything becomes clear and demonstrates skillful writing based on Tawni O’Dell's 1999 novel. Just don’t anticipate finding it enjoyable. The movie has a runtime of one hour and forty-one minutes. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB