In the Depression era, Turner is a
World War I veteran who is haunted not only by memories of the war, but by the civil and economic unrest of the time. He stumbles on a beautiful backwoods mountainside named Samuels Mountain while wandering in the
Appalachian Mountains. While camping, he meets Flo, the daughter of tyrannical landowner, Clayton Samuels. Flo is initially infuriated at Turner, who she accuses of spying on her while
skinny dipping, but soon the two fall hopelessly in love. Their burgeoning relationship is threatened by Samuels, who has become fiercely protective of Flo after his wife's death, and killed a number of her previous suitors. There are also dark secrets buried in the Samuels family. Flo, who has taken on the role of matriarch, resents Clayton, who she believes worked her mother to death. Samuels is bitter toward Flo because she is the illegitimate child of his wife and Judge Tully, a corrupt man for whom Samuels runs
moonshine. Meanwhile, Samuels's mistress Borlene is also sleeping with his son, dimwitted Jackie Lee. When Turner and Flo show up at Samuels's supply store, Samuels notices the attraction between the two, and disapproves of their courtship. As Turner tries to convince Flo to run away with him, Samuels determines to end their relationship by any means necessary. He sets traps around the mountain, and he and Jackie Lee hunt Turner down. Turner is forced to draw on his war experience to elude them. ==Cast==