The Civil War rumbling in the background echoes the ominous strife at the forefront of this atmospheric indie drama, in which white bounty hunters strong-arm a timid black youngster (Ashton Sanders) and his ruthless, mercenary uncle (Keston John) into capturing runaway slaves. When the duo heads north to bring back a freed slave wanted for murder (Tishuan Scott), the journey becomes one of discovery as well as survival; confronted for the first time with an independent black man who owns up to his mistakes, the boy begins to develop a conscience. Writer-director Chris Eska keeps the tone somber and the suspense taut, while his actors convince with their naturalism, making this cadenced, original work thoroughly compelling.