Synopsis

After their marijuana-farming boss is murdered, three longtime workers in Northern California decide to keep the harvest for themselves. Their improvised business quickly attracts criminals, corrupt law enforcement, dangerous associates, and mounting suspicion. As greed and paranoia spread through their rural community, the friends find their simple plan turning into an increasingly chaotic struggle for survival.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film combines dark comedy, crime drama, thriller, and counterculture elements rather than staying within a single genre.

• The story was developed from a screenplay credited to Nicholas Kazan and Stephen Gyllenhaal, with Jonah Raskin and Gyllenhaal credited for the story.

• Filming took place in and around Santa Cruz County, California, including Aptos and several redwood locations. San Francisco also appears in the film.

• The movie was released theatrically in the United States on April 17, 1998, by TriStar Pictures. Its reported domestic and worldwide theatrical gross was $77,910.

• The cast includes several members of the Gyllenhaal family. Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal appear in small roles, while their father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, made the film.

• Jamie Lee Curtis, who appears in the film, was the godmother of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

• Steve Carell has a small uncredited appearance as a party extra, years before becoming widely known for television and film comedy.

• Trevor Rabin composed the score. A separate soundtrack album featuring reggae, ska, punk, and alternative-rock songs was released by Will Records in 1998.