The farmer, Ernest Holm (played by Michael Shannon), lives in a near-future world where water is scarce and survival is a constant struggle. Ernest has two children, a teenage daughter named Mary (Elle Fanning) and a young son named Jerome (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Despite the harsh conditions, Ernest is determined to protect his family, his land, and his way of life.
Ernest is a hard-working farmer, but his crops are failing due to the lack of water. He has a plan to revive his land using a special machine that can extract moisture from the air and turn it into water. However, the machine is expensive and requires a lot of power, which is difficult to come by in this world.
Meanwhile, Mary is in love with a young man named Flem Lever (Nicholas Hoult), who is a smooth-talking, charismatic drifter. Flem seems charming at first, but Ernest senses that he may have ulterior motives. As it turns out, Flem is working with a group of ruthless thugs who want to take over Ernest's land.
Ernest tries to negotiate with Flem and his associates, but they are unwilling to compromise. As tensions rise, violence erupts, and Ernest is forced to defend his land and his family using whatever means necessary. Along the way, he discovers that there is more to Mary's relationship with Flem than he initially realized, and he must come to terms with the fact that his daughter is growing up and making her own choices.
The movie is a gritty, intense drama that explores themes of family, loyalty, and survival in a harsh and unforgiving world. It also features stunning cinematography and a haunting musical score, which add to the film's dystopian atmosphere.