A Father’s Beliefs Became His Son’s Prison

What begins as a father’s fight against debt and what he believes is injustice spirals into an ideology that might be more dangerous than the system he distrusts. Sovereign (2025) takes a true‐crime story about radicalization, fragile family ties, and power’s hardest truths—and turns them into a gripping, uncomfortable mirror of desperation.

The Plot

Jerry Kane (Nick Offerman) is an unemployed roofer with piles of debt. When foreclosure and eviction loom, he throws himself into the Sovereign Citizen movement, believing the government, banks, and courts are illegitimate. He teaches his teenage son Joe (Jacob Tremblay) his beliefs, travels delivering seminars, and refuses to comply with traffic law, licensing, and paying mortgages.

Their ideology isn’t a fringe belief—it sets them on a collision course with Police Chief John Bouchart (Dennis Quaid). Gradually, Jerry’s fervor escalates into open defiance and violence. What started as reactive resistance becomes a manhunt with tragic consequences—for both father and son.

Why It’s More Than Just Another Crime Thriller

A father-son bond pushed past breaking – The film explores how love and indoctrination can twist together, turning protection into control.
Ideology as character – Jerry’s beliefs are not just circumstance; they define his identity, relationships, and downfall.
Balanced perspective – It doesn’t just demonize or glorify; it shows the desperation behind the radicalization and its ripple effects.
Strong performances anchoring chaos – Offerman and Tremblay carry scenes that are as emotional as they are enraging.

💡 Interesting Facts

The real Jerry and Joseph Kane killed two police officers during a 2010 traffic stop, a event the film adapts with fictionalized nuance .
Offerman spent months researching sovereign citizen rhetoric, attending online seminars to authentically capture Jerry’s conviction .
The script was inspired by Hell or High Water and Leave No Trace, blending familial drama with thriller elements .

🎬 Legacy and Verdict

Sovereign is a grim, thought-provoking study of extremism’s human cost. While its slow pace and thematic heaviness may deter some viewers, its powerful performances and relevance to contemporary political discourse make it a standout indie thriller. Swegal’s debut marks him as a filmmaker unafraid to confront uncomfortable truths .