One scene reveals that Shepard was beaten and gang-raped in Morocco; he came back to the hotel, shirtless and sobbing.

McKinney claimed that Shepard made passes at him, which brought on the violence.

Shepard is described to have been beaten, tortured, and pistol-whipped by McKinney and Henderson. He was left for dead, tied to a fence. Later scenes from the hospital show Shepard's deformed, badly-scarred face.

No particular profanity in general; one use of the word "shit" and countless uses of the derogatory term "fag"/"faggot".

Young adults are mentioned to have been drinking a great deal. It is also briefly mentioned that McKinney had a prior record of drug use.

The film is a biographical, personal look at the brutal torture/murder of Matthew Shepard and shows many disturbing and distressing scenes as well as descriptions.