The film centers on the "Smash Palace" car wrecking yard on the North Island Volcanic Plateau, where former racing driver Al Shaw (Lawrence) lives with his unhappy French wife Jacqui (Jemison) and daughter Georgie (Robson).
Living in rural Texas is a dysfunctional family: an abusive dad, a Vietnam vet with a war wound that's left him impotent; a compliant wife and a son of about 20, two small sons who look a lot like their brother. The dad harbors a secret, and he goes to murderous lengths to keep it hidden. The young man, Jimmy, who has suspicions, but little comes out until a Yankee woman comes to town.
A reporter, fired after refusing to give names to a 1951 House Un-American Activities Committee, takes a part-time job as companion to an old lady. While working she overhears a noisy argument in the neighboring house, being conducted largely in German and involving her HUAC prosecutor. She begins to investigate, enlisting the help of the FBI Agent initially detailed to surveil her.
Eski bir olimpik sporcu olan Eric, insanlardan uzaklaşıp geçmişindeki sorunlarla yüzleşmeye çalışmaktadır ve California’nın uçsuz bucaksız Sierra Nevada sıradağlarında bir evde inzivaya çekilmiştir. Usta bir snowboard’cu olmasına rağmen, bir gün büyük bir kar fırtınasına yakalanıp dağ zirvesinde kaybolur. Yakınları ve kurtarma görevlileri ona ulaşmaya çalışırken, Eric sekiz gün boyunca dondurucu soğukta insan limitlerini zorlayıp doğaya karşı savaşmak durumunda kalacaktır.