Sling Blade is one of those wonderful independent films that many of us rarely take the time to seek out, let alone watch. I heard about this movie 3 years ago when it was recommended to me by one of my professors. It has taken me that long to finally see the film, but I’m certainly glad that I did.

The acting of this film was superb, staring Billy Bob Thorton in the leading role of Karl Childers. He also wrote and directed this film, so you get a glimpse into his brilliant, if somewhat disturbed, mind. I haven’t seen many movies starring Mr. Thorton before, but I can tell you that after this film, I will look for his movies.

This movie left me with a severe chill down my spine. It is a haunting southern gothic tale that is twisted and yet strangely touching. It starts out in an Arkansas State mental institution where Karl, who is mentally impaired, has been for the past 25 years. You quickly find out through an interview by a rather insensitive college journalist major exactly why he is there. At the age of 12, Karl killed his mother and a school comrade, Jessie Dixon, who turns out to be her lover. However, this wasn’t a complete random act of violence for you find out that Karl has been physically and emotionally neglected and abused all his life by his parents. They kept him out in a shed to do nothing expect stare at the ground and tinker with broken lawn mowers. He only went to school on occasion because his schoolmates, especially one Jessie Dixon, taunted him relentlessly.

Karl is released the day of his interview because his sentence is up and he is deemed well. With nothing but the books he learned to read and a little bit of cash in his pocket, he returned to his hometown of Millsburg to try and start a life. However, Karl is still a boy on an emotional and mental level and quickly feels overwhelmed and confused by the outside world. He does manage to befriend a young boy named Frank Wheatly (played by Lucas Black) but still ends up returning to the institution for help. The director aids Karl by setting him up with a job at a local repair shop in Millsburg because Karl had a knack for fixing just about anything.

The movie progresses with Frank and Karl becoming good friends. Frank likes the way Karl talks, with his gravely voice and polite southern drawl (and I have to say I agree, it does become rather endearing after awhile). Frank’s single mother, Linda (Natalie Canerday), lets Karl stay in their garage, despite her reservations and those of her gay friend, Vaughn (John Ritter). However, Linda has an extremely narrow-minded ‘redneck’ boyfriend, Doyle (Dwight Yoakom), who is both verbally and physically abusive to Linda and especially to Frank. As Vaughn warned Karl, Doyle makes their lives increasingly difficult, to put it mildly, because he is jealous of Linda’s attentions. Doyle’s drunken episodes become increasingly worse and Karl takes it upon himself to rid Frank and his family of their infliction. History repeats itself. In his mind, he sees it as taking care of the people he loves; the closest he ever came to having a family.

There are no special effects in this movie to speak of, just excellent acting. That alone should be reason enough to see it. This film isn’t for everyone with its slow pace and blunt realism. I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for children of any age or for those easily offended. Also, this is not a movie to watch if you’re simply looking for entertainment. If you do take a chance and watch it, you’ll be disturbed and it will make you think. However, that is how the film is intended. It’s scary to think that there really are people like the ones in the movie and I’m not talking about Karl.

Tip: If you do rent it, pay close attention to what Karl’s father says to himself when Karl visits him. It will explain quite a bit.

Also.. If you happen to understand the joke about the man from California and the man from Arkansas, please explain it to me. After watching it again with my parents, I still didn’t understand it and neither did they! ;)


Ahwright den, I reckon I oughta thank you for readin’ my review. UMrmm Hrmm…




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age
Special Effects: Well at least you can't see the strings