Troubled new girl Kat Carter (a mesmerizing Eliza Taylor) struggles to fit in with her high school classmates in a community where drugs and violence run rampant. When she is befriended by the sweet-natured Beaver (Daniel Webber), Kat realizes that the reach of the local drug ring is far deeper than she imagined. But Kat’s harboring a dark secret of her own. She soon attracts the attention of the group's leader Wyatt (Pablo Schreiber), a menacing individual who would kill to protect his livelihood. Surviving in this treacherous environment is no mean feat. Eliza Taylor deftly conveys Kat’s complex character, which combines vulnerability and strength.

Expertly crafted by writer/director Jordan Ross, this searing crime drama explores the cycle of drugs and violence that too commonly affects communities across the country. Executive produced by Cary Fukunaga, Thumper features memorable supporting turns from Lena Headey, Ben Feldman and Grant Harvey.

—Karen Kammerle