In a sardonic twist on collegiate rivalries and societal norms, "American Pledge" delves into the life of Benny, an anxious college freshman determined to transform his social status by pledging to the infamous Sigma Beta Phi fraternity. As Benny navigates the murky waters of frat politics, identity crises, and the pursuit of acceptance, he uncovers a scandalous past that threatens to repeat itself.

In mid-2000s rural Pennsylvania, a grieving teen sifts through his mother’s MiniDV footage for evidence of the pollution he believes killed her, while his younger sister drifts into a strange, feral grief.