My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

Siblings Jessie and Dwight are tasked with caring for their younger brother, Thomas, who suffers from a chronic illness that prevents him from going outdoors. Thomas relies on blood to survive, casting a shadow over their family dynamics as they struggle to meet his needs.

In a desperate attempt to provide for Thomas, Jessie and Dwight resort to killing strangers, primarily homeless individuals, to supply him with the blood he needs. This choice leads them down a dark and morally ambiguous path, filled with guilt and fear.

After a particularly gruesome murder, Dwight urges Jessie to seek legitimate medical help for Thomas, but she stubbornly refuses. She insists that Dwight find another victim, a moment that underscores the strain in their relationship and the desperation of their circumstances.

Dwight attempts to lure a Spanish-speaking migrant named Eduardo into his car, but the situation escalates dangerously when Eduardo fights back, injuring Dwight with a screwdriver. This confrontation complicates their already precarious situation, adding to the tension within their lives.

Returning home without fresh blood, Dwight is devastated when Jessie kills Pam, a prostitute. This act of violence shatters Dwight, showcasing the deepening chaos and moral decay in their lives as they struggle to care for Thomas.

During dinner, Thomas expresses his loneliness and pleas with Jessie to let him meet local children. After being rejected, he spills his bowl of blood in frustration, symbolizing the suffocating isolation he feels and the heavy toll of their choices.

Seizing an opportunity, Eduardo escapes from Dwight's shed and confronts him. In a moment of panic, Dwight ultimately kills Eduardo in front of Thomas, which leaves the vulnerable boy to process the horror of the act he just witnessed.

In a desperate desire for connection, Thomas writes a note and throws it outside to a group of teenagers. Unfortunately, Dwight arrives just in time to stop the interaction, resulting in Thomas sustaining severe burns during the struggle.

One of the teenagers, Turner, finds Thomas's note and visits the house, leading to a moment where they connect over a piano guessing game. However, their budding friendship is interrupted when Dwight catches them, and he struggles with how to protect their dark secret.

When Jessie discovers Turner hiding, a violent struggle ensues, ending in Jessie's fatal stabbing. Despite her impending death, she urges Thomas to take her blood, a chilling juxtaposition of love and horror as their family crumbles.

Dwight confronts Turner, ultimately deciding to let him go, and drives him home. He is left to face the grim reality of coming back to find Jessie dead in the bathtub while Thomas engages in a terrifying act of survival, drinking her blood.

In a fit of rage and desperation, Dwight locks Thomas away with the body of Jessie's last victim after burying Jessie. This act symbolizes Dwight's growing madness as he struggles to cope with the gruesome reality of their lives.

The next morning, Dwight informs Thomas of his decision to leave forever, but a moment of clarity strikes him as he witnesses a happy family at a diner. This sight prompts him to reconsider the implications of his actions and their consequences.

At home, Thomas expresses his remorse for his part in Jessie's tragic fate, and the brothers share a heartfelt embrace. As they comfort each other, Thomas asks Dwight to remove the cardboard covering the window, representing a yearning for freedom.

With a heavy heart, Dwight sets off alone on a journey across the country. He stops at a jetty, gazing contemplatively over the water, burdened by the loss of his family yet seeking a path forward amidst the chaos of their lives.