Haunted by his past, WW-II veteran and drifter Freddie Quell crosses paths with a mysterious movement called The Cause, led by Lancaster Dodd, aka The Master, and his wife Peggy. Their twisted relationship is the core of this film which THE NEW YORK TIMES called "a glorious and haunting symphony of color, emotion and sound with camera movements that elicit an involuntary gasp and feats of acting that defy comprehension." Will Freddie be able to outrun his past? Will The Cause help or hurt him? Can this tortured, violent creature be civilized? Or is man, after all, just a dirty animal? Starring 2012 ACADEMY-AWARD® NOMINEES for Best Actor, Joaquin Phoenix, Best Supporting Actor, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Best Supporting Actress, Amy Adams, ROLLING STONE calls THE MASTER "A mind bending cinematic landmark."
