Set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Boxer Santaros is an action star who's stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with Krysta Now, an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Ronald Taverner, a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.

Southland Tales, while offering an intriguing vision of the future, remains frustratingly incoherent and unpolished.

'Southland Tales' is a boldly original film with sharp social commentary on post-9/11 America that rewards deep analysis. However, most found the plot extremely confusing and nearly impossible to follow, with writing criticized as incomprehensible and pretentious. The directorial vision divided audiences, with some praising Kelly's maverick approach while others felt he lost control. Its ambitious scope and complex narrative prove polarizing—intellectually rewarding for some, frustratingly inaccessible for others.