Drawing surprising connections between market methods and CIA torture techniques developed in the 1950s, the film explores how well-known events of the recent past have been theaters for the shock doctrine, from Pinochet's coup in Chile, to the Tiananmen Square Massacre, to the war in Iraq today.

《沙漠》讲述墨西哥非法移民（盖尔·加西亚·伯纳）和美国义务警员（杰弗瑞·迪恩·摩根）之间的猫鼠游戏，影片设定在荒凉的大沙漠，这里美丽的风光与严苛的自然环境正是两位主角内心挣扎的隐喻。

在墨西哥探望家人期间，一名孤独的男孩与藏在爷爷农场里的神秘生物成为朋友，并由此开启了一场让他终身难忘的冒险之旅。