Red Rocket, Sean Baker’s searingly original portrait of a faded porn star Mikey Saber, examines how far an initially well-meaning man can fall from grace, largely at his own doing.

Simon Rex plays Mikey as a magnificent fuckboy, able to be charismatic until he gets cruel, sweet when needed until he gets violent, a braggart who doesn’t even know what’s true–or what’s good for him and others–anymore.

Falling on hard times after a lengthy run at the top of the XXX game, he returns to his desolate Texas hometown to try to reconcile with his estranged wife and try starting a new life.

But from grooming a teen to be the next big porn star to selling drugs to the wrong people, Mikey soon finds himself persona non grata to everyone around. And his infatuation with adolescent girl (Susanna Son) makes things worse–despite good intentions.

Baker’s sharp script and visually arresting direction shows empathy for all of the characters, including Mikey, even as their intentions grow unbearably dark.