The film spotlights illegal immigration from various perspectives, and stars Ed Harris, Michael Peña, Eva Longoria and Amy Madigan.

The two men cross the border onto a sprawling Arizona ranch owned by Olivia McNary and her husband Roy, a retired sheriff.

Brad fires shots from Sean's rifle near Miguel and Jose, sending them scrambling—and also attracts separate attention from Olivia and Roy.

Paulina decides to go to the U.S. herself, a naïve target for the coyotes, who lead her and a dozen others across the border and into Phoenix, bribing an immigration officer along the way.

She is violently beaten and raped by two coyotes, who subsequently strip and hold captive for ransom the entire group.

The teens are ultimately left facing unspecified charges for their role in Olivia's death, but Roy agrees to speak on Sean's behalf on the condition that he tells the truth at the deposition.

After the Mexican hostages in Phoenix escape, Flora (Randall's employee and a friend of Roy) learns that Paulina is being treated for injuries and trauma.

The site's critical consensus reads: "Frontera is solidly cast, handsomely mounted, and well-acted; unfortunately, it's also rather dull and fairly forgettable".