Charlie, a heroin-addicted sex worker, and her boyfriend Gary, a recovering psych patient, are fighting to keep their dreams alive in an imperfect world. But when they both become entangled with the well-intentioned Nigel, their lives are changed forever.

Nigel is an overworked social worker whose job responsibilities are taking a toll on his mind and his marriage. As he begins to seek regular comfort and escape in the arms of Charlie, lines blur and he convinces himself that he is Charlie’s only chance to overcome both her drug addiction and her life on the streets. Meanwhile, Nigel is assigned to monitor Gary as he transitions back into everyday life after his release from the hospital. As Gary slips further and further into a world of delusions, and Charlie’s drug dependency grows, Nigel takes greater risks to save them both and their fates become inextricably linked with dire consequences.

With all the power of Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, Under Control is a harrowing, exhilarating tale of desire, deceit, and life on the margins.