Out in West Virginia, there are wild things. Things that could make you question the sanity of people. This documentary entails following one of the craziest and most outrageous outlaw families of West Virginia. A look into this dysfunctional family's mentality and operations might evoke an instinct to run for the hills. Although controversial, this behind-the-scenes extraordinaire leads to a chaotic roller coaster of unfolding drama. As stated by Francis M. Curnette, "a whole lot of them are troubleand dangerous" (Nitzberg, Knoxville, 2009, #1). Portraying a glorification of corrupt family values, this documentary critiques on the constitution of celebrity status in the modern era. Throughout the entire film certain behaviors are consistent with these three particular theories: the strain theory (both Agnew and Merton's theories), the imitation modeling theory, and third, the general theory of crime. The White family willingly obliges in letting their bravado and acts of misdeed represent who they are. .
Introduce Mamie, the self-proclaimed "biggest, meanest, and baddest of all the White family" (Nitzberg, Knoxville, 2009, #1). Though hardened on the outside, parts of the documentary caught her at her vulnerable moments in which she displays affection for her mother, Bertie Mae, and reveals mixed emotions of hurt and anger when her mother suffers a stroke. Detailed interviews were conducted with six of the thirteen original White family children in which the audience was able to grasp an understanding of the instability and drama of each individual's life. Known as the Dancing Outlaw, Mamie's brother, Jesco, lives for entertaining people with his tap dancing skills passed from their deceased father. Constantly on alcohol and drugs, he discusses his lifestyle and how he had robbed from a local store on the way to school. Minnesota bound, the last living brother of Mamie, Poney White, realized that he simply had to leave the family dysfunction in order for his children to have a decent future.
