A Vicious Undertow features an enigmatic narrative that charts a complex set of tensions among an aging woman, and a younger man and woman. Set in a decadent lounge, the film opens on the older woman whistling an adaptation of the song "Nights in White Satin." The calm and precise pacing of the camera's movement is matched by the slow articulation of each note. Shot on richly nuanced black and white film and transferred to video, the camera frames highly tactile details, from the weave of a Japanese tapestry to the delicate patina of the characters' skin.

As the film unfolds, the older woman alternately dances with the younger woman and man; ultimately the young pair dance together, and the older woman departs for a winding outdoor staircase with no disclosed destination. The film provokes more questions than answers, as in the song's lyrics, "Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore."