I like this movie. It is not terribly well acted, told, or executed, but there was still something about it — there is an energy that I found infectious, and the portrayals of the lead characters lend more depth than you would expect. This is more than a story of drug dealings gone bad, or bad guys seeking to regain what is theirs — it is the story of a mother doing whatever it takes to keep her children safe. There are some maddening narrative issues, but I found it easy enough to get past them. Overall, it is a supremely watchable tale of the sins of the father returning to haunt his family.
In 1985, Wilson DeLeon was a drug dealer who did bad things, but still maintained a moral compass. His young wife was pregnant and he was looking to get out of the business. However, on the evening that everything was meant to come to a close, Wilson's partner, Javier, turned on him. Wilson is murdered, leaving a wife and newborn son behind.
The story jumps ahead 21 years to 2006. Millie (Wanda DeJesus), Wilson's widow, is living in an upscale Connecticut mansion with Wilson Jr. (Rick Gonzalez) and Randy, a younger son from another relationship. Wilson is a smart guy, he is going to college, has faith, love for his family, and looks forward to a bright future. Mom, on the other hand, is walled off, always defensive and wary of her surroundings. She knows that danger lurks around every corner. You see, Wilson Sr. had appropriated some money from his drug dealings, which Millie had taken and laundered through smartly placed investments. It is this money which allows for their current standard of living.
One day, Millie and Randy are at the grocery store when Millie sees a familiar face. It is a face which brings back the threat that she has lived with for over twenty years. Survival instincts kick in, and she immediately leaps into action. She heads home and starts packing. With the arrival of that out of place face, it is time to leave. A new conflict arises when Wilson refuses to leave without being told what the problem is.
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