Sonora

DENISE (18), her brother MARCOS (13) and their parents LORENZO and VERO (Both in their 50s) are on their way to Puerto Peñasco/Rocky Point, Sonora from Tucson, Arizona. On the road, they’re targeted by an assassin: TALIA (Late 20s) who prepares to kill them with a sniper rifle. But the attack is called-off until later in the day. The family enjoys the beach, the pool and being on the town. All except for Denise who is despondent about the whole thing, wishing she could be more independent from her parents now that she’s about to go to college. Still, she displays love and care for them; she saves Marcos from drowning in the pool and promises to Vero that she will do her best to have fun the rest of the trip. She promises Marcos that they will build a sandcastle the next day. That night, Talia murders Lorenzo and Vero. Marcos and Denise escape by jumping out of their room’s balcony, landing in the pool. Slightly hurt, they run for the beach where the darkness and the surf manages to cover for them.

Denise and Marcos decide to go into town to find their aunt. Because of corruption, they don’t want to inform the cops who will be looking for them anyway. They go into a pharmacy for some first aid and then try to enter a nightclub to find their AUNT LUZ (50s). But the BOUNCER doesn’t let them in. They see Talia running toward them, so they escape into the nightclub, pursued both by the bouncer and Talia. Once inside, they find their aunt. Aunt Luz takes them to her house where they device a escape plan: Since they will probably be chased on the road, they have to escape by boat into the United States. Meanwhile, Talia is scolded by HIDALGO (70s), her father and boss for not finding the kids. She searches for information and discovers that Aunt Luz owns a boat: El Pasajero del Norte.

The next morning, Talia steals a motorboat from an influencer. On El Pasajero, everything is going well until the kids get seasick and Talia finds them. She kills Luz while the kids hide. She finds them but they confront her. Denise hits her with a baseball bat and makes her fall off the boat. They climb aboard the motorboat. The cops find them, thinking they’re the ones who stole the boat. They turn themselves in. DETECTIVE ARRIAGA (40s) finds out from the influencer that they aren’t the thieves. She swears to protect the kids and arrange a rendezvous for them at the border.

Talia survives and gets herself back to shore driving El Pasajero. She goes to Hidalgo’s house, having the idea of using their contacts in the police. When he refuses, she shoots him, taking revenge for having mistreated her and her mother and brother growing up. He apologizes her and gives her the information before she murders him. She gets to the station. As Talia massacres various police staff, she gives Denise a gun and the keys to her car. Denise and Marcos run into the parking lot and then into Arriaga’s car where they hide from Talia. She finds them but speed away. A car chase ensues until they get out of the road into the desert. They crash. Talia is left unconscious. Denise and Marcos try to make their way under the scorching sun into the States, but Talia finds them. She shoots Marcos. Denise takes Talia’s gun and kills her. She takes Talia’s car keys and returns to find her car to pick up Marcos and then complete their journey. But she passes out behind the wheel. They’re found by other people and taken into the States. Weeks later, Marcos and Denise spill the ashes of their parents and aunt into the ocean. Later, they wonder what the future will bring as they build a sandcastle.