The film offers a captivating look into a true story that unravels within the gritty landscape of 1986 Detroit. It plunges the viewer into the world of Rick Wershe Jr., a teenager thrust into the murky depths of crime and deceit. The narrative begins at a gun show in Toledo, Ohio, establishing an atmosphere thick with tension and precursory trouble. Rick, portrayed by Richie Merritt, identifies the distinction between genuine and counterfeit claims made by a dealer peddling AK-47s. This early interaction with deception foreshadows Rick’s eventual entanglement in a world where facades and truths blur.

The heart of the narrative is Rick’s relationship with his father, Richard Wershe Sr., embodied by Matthew McConaughey, a dreamer caught in a cycle of ambition and questionable decisions. Richard, envisaging a humble future as a video store owner, is an arms dealer morally undeterred by legality. His metaphorical portrayal of himself and Rick as ‘lions among sheep’ delineates their shared inclination to navigate life’s currents by any means necessary. Their dynamic, nuanced with sarcasm and shared conspiracies, unfolds when they return to Detroit and confront domestic turmoil. Dawn Wershe, Rick's older sister, is caught amid a scandalous altercation with her boyfriend, Ty, revealing the familial chaos simmering beneath their criminal ventures.

Richard seeks respite through crafting silenced weaponry, a skill layered with both economic aspiration and an undercurrent of impending doom. The concept of "up-selling," imparted by Richard to young Rick, becomes a pivotal tool that thrusts Rick into the nucleus of Detroit's criminal underbelly. The transactional alliances formed with Johnny Curry and his gang propel Rick into a world fraught with luxurious yet perilous indulgences. The film intricately portrays his rise within the gang’s ecosystem, accentuated by nights at a roller skating rink interspersed with systemic corruption.

The film does not shy away from highlighting the familial fractures exacerbated by these criminal affairs. Dawn's departure with Ty signifies a fracture not easily mended, echoing the broader theme of abandonment and loyalty’s fragility. Meanwhile, the intrusion of federal entities, exemplified by relentless FBI agents Alex and Frank, thrusts Rick into a reluctant role of cooperation. The dramatic ascent of Rick’s illegal undertakings, transformed from coerced participation into volition, underscores a haunting commentary on the seduction of quick wealth and artificial respect.

As Rick's entanglement deepens, the narrative examines the moral ambiguities and harrowing choices that define his trajectory. Rick, initially caught in a web of criminal enticements, finds temporary reprieve in the riches and infamy that accompany his newfound lifestyle. Traveling to Las Vegas and mingling with affluent figures like Art Derrick encapsulates the intoxicating allure of power and prosperity. Yet, this fleeting glamour is abruptly dismantled as violent reprisals spiral out of control, uniquely capturing the relentless volatility inherent in this clandestine world.

Rick’s isolated act of filial redemption, rescuing Dawn from her drug-soaked stupor and aiding in her detoxification, momentarily portrays a tender devotion amidst the chaos. However, the fleeting nature of these personal victories amplifies the looming tragedy, culminating in inevitable retribution. As Rick amasses wealth through cocaine dealings, fulfilling Richard’s aspirations of opening a video store, the audience is subtly reminded of the insidious costs underpinning their consumerist dreams.

The increasingly precarious balance of deception and truth culminates in a climactic encounter with law enforcement, capturing the grim inevitability tethered to Rick’s fate. The film deftly dissects the betrayal woven into the justice system’s fabric, highlighting the futile promises of the FBI agents who manipulate Rick’s desperate compliance. The poignant irony of Rick’s sentencing—imprisoned for life despite the nebulous morality of his incarceration—lays bare a critique of judicial disparities and the larger societal machinations at play.

In its denouement, the film poignantly resonates through its portrayal of the enduring repercussions faced by Rick’s family. Richard’s poignant apologies, interlaced with regret and parental inadequacy, mark the emotional apex of the narrative. The familial ties, tested and frayed, endure despite the harsh, federal disparities that define their reality. The film closes by addressing Rick’s enduring imprisonment and eventual release, drawing stark attention to a legal system that punishes disproportionately, leaving viewers pensive about justice and redemption.

As a culturally and ethically compelling narrative, traverses an intricate landscape of systemic corruption, familial bonds, and personal ruin. It invites viewers to ponder the perplexities of morality, crime, and consequence within a saga that is as hauntingly true as it is dramatically engaging. With a stellar cast, intricate storytelling, and poignant themes, the film poignantly unmasks the layers beneath a young man’s dubious ascent and eventual fall in the criminal world.