In the charming town of Kentucky, 16-year-old Tyler Burnside finds himself engulfed by the dark legacy of the infamous Clovehitch Killer, a serial murderer responsible for the tragic deaths of ten women. This ominous figure, who vanished a decade ago, casts a long shadow over the community, lingering in the hearts and minds of its residents.
One fateful evening, while borrowing his father's truck for a visit to a young woman, Tyler unwittingly leaves behind a bondage photograph. This innocent act spirals into chaos as gossip erupts among his church and scout troop friends, leading to ominous assumptions that Tyler harbors a secret BDSM fetish. Ostracized by his peers, Tyler becomes increasingly isolated, grappling with the unexpected scrutiny surrounding his life.
As suspicion brews, Tyler's attention shifts to his father, Don Burnside, portrayed as a devoted family man, a respected community figure, and a leader within their church and scouting organization. A nagging intuition compels Tyler to investigate further, prompting him to explore Don's private shed. There, he uncovers a concealed compartment filled with disturbing bondage magazines and a haunting Polaroid of a bound woman.
This shocking revelation shakes Tyler to his core and intensifies his fears that his father may be embroiled in the nefarious activities of the Clovehitch Killer. In a bid for clarity and aid, Tyler develops an unexpected friendship with Kassi, a rebellious young girl who has an intense interest in the history of the Clovehitch Killer. Initially dismissive of Tyler's concerns, Kassi finds herself drawn into the mystery as they connect the dots between Don’s shed and the killer’s past victims.
Together, they unveil even darker secrets: detailed blueprints for a BDSM dungeon and a gallery of Polaroids depicting acts of bondage and abuse. This disturbing evidence only strengthens Tyler's suspicions about his father's potential links to the Clovehitch Killer.
As tensions escalate, Don senses Tyler's curiosity and takes him on a camping trip, hoping to divert his son’s attention. During this trip, Don attempts to alleviate the growing fears by claiming that the true villain behind the Clovehitch murders is his own uncle, Rudy, who succumbed to guilt. Tyler, desperate for reassurance, accepts his father's account and joins him in destroying the incriminating evidence, believing it to wipe the slate clean.
However, Kassi remains skeptical of Don's narrative, while Tyler tries to move on, unaware that the truth may run deeper than he can imagine. After Don permits Tyler to attend a scout leadership camp, a sudden turn of events leaves Don alone in their home. Here, his hidden predilections emerge, as he indulges in crossdressing and takes troubling photos of himself before being interrupted by Kassi’s unexpected arrival.
As Don becomes fixated on a woman in town, pursuing her with sinister intent, he eventually breaks into her home, sending Tyler on a clandestine mission with Kassi to confront the truth. They discover Don in the act, leading to a confrontation fraught with tension and revelations about Kassi’s mother, a long-missing victim of the Clovehitch Killer's spree.
When everything comes to a head, Tyler finds himself locked in a violent struggle with Don, who, despite his dire circumstances, remains eerily calm. In a moment of desperation, as son and father grapple, the unfinished truths of their past emerge, presenting an ethical dilemma that leaves Tyler and Kassi grappling with the implications of their actions.
As the dust settles, the community copes with the shocking revelation of Don's fate, which is ruled a tragic accident. Tyler stands before his congregation, delivering a heartfelt eulogy, filled with bittersweet memories and underscored by a startling vision of what truly transpired. The imagery transitions to solemn moments of Tyler, Kassi, and Don, showcasing the façade of normalcy as they stage a hunting accident, ultimately culminating in Tyler's haunted realization of his father's approval at the end of it all. The heavy words linger in the air as Tyler concludes, “Dad, if you can hear me, I love you,” sealing a grim yet profound connection between them that overshadows their shared history.
