This was a simple but very enjoyable thriller with a great performance from Rooney. There is no actual quicksand, but it's meaning becomes clear. a la the old LDS ad "you tell a lie it leads to another", Rooney borrows some money from the register at work, has to resort to criminal means to make sure he can replace that in time, then he has to replace the money he used for the other and on and on. It's not a big cinematic masterpiece like "nightmare alley" but is highly entertaining.