Sling Blade (1996)
Average Rating: 8.3/10
Reviews Counted: 51
Fresh: 49 | Rotten: 2
You will see what's coming, but the masterful performances, especially Thornton's, will leave you riveted.
Average Rating: 8/10
Critic Reviews: 17
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 2
You will see what's coming, but the masterful performances, especially Thornton's, will leave you riveted.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 53,268
My Rating
Movie Info
Sling Blade marked the directorial debut of country singer turned actor Billy Bob Thornton, who also authored the script (expanding George Hickenlooper's acclaimed short Some Folks Call it a Sling Blade) and stars in the picture. Thornton plays Karl Childers, a mildly retarded man who spent most of his life in a mental institution. When Karl was a boy, he was severely mistreated by his abusive father (Robert Duvall). At age 12, Karl found his mother having intercourse with a man who tormented
Nov 27, 1996 Wide
Jan 1, 1998
Miramax Films
Watch It Now
Cast
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Billy Bob Thornton
Karl Childers -
Dwight Yoakam
Doyle Hargraves -
J.T. Walsh
Charles Bushman -
John Ritter
Vaughan Cunningham -
Lucas Black
Frank Wheatley -
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James Hampton
Jerry Woolridge -
Robert Duvall
Karl's Father
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All Critics (63) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (61) | Rotten (2) | DVD (34)
A masterpiece of Southern storytelling.
Top CriticAn abundance of long, flat medium shots that rob the film of intimacy and give it a sleepy pace.
A mesmerizing parable of good and evil and a splendid example of Southern storytelling at its most poetic and imaginative.
Sling Blade does homage to Psycho without slavishly imitating the memorable parts.
Much of the audience appeal relies on the film's simplicity
Intense family drama with strong language, some violence.
Marking Billy Bob Thornton's debut as a director and solo writer, Sling Blade is a powerful southern gothic parable about good and evil.
Well acted, a multi-leveled story and a pure honesty make Sling Blade one of my favourite films of the 1990s.
Thornton brings three key ingredients to the table: distinctive, rich, authentic Southern locations, patient and painterly atmosphere, and a precise and fresh character to study. [Blu-ray]
An exceptional film with superb acting and great direction made even more enjoyable with this Blu-Ray release.
An intelligent movie that beats with the heart of an indie film, with details and characters remaining more important than action or direct exposition.
Thornton offers a subtle, thoughtful script, generally sensitive direction, and an understated performance, uh-huh.
Excellent character study of a mentally challenged person.
It's frightening and haunting and what put Billy Bob in the Hollywood scene as a writer and an actor.
The film's many rewards cannot be described in conventional terms.
There will never be another film like Sling Blade. And I reckon we'll have to live with that... Mmm-mmm.
Audience Reviews for Sling Blade
Super Reviewer
Set in a small Arkansas town, we follow Karl Childers (Thornton) a mildly retarded man who, for the past 25 years has been in a state hospital for murder. He's deemed stable, and released back into the world. We follow him as he returns to the town he grew up in a d tries to move on with his life. He begins a friendship with a young boy, his mother, and her gay friend. Things get greatly hampered thanks to the mother's vile, alcoholic, and abusive boyfriend, and it's not long before Karl realizes that a change is in order.
The character of Karl is one of the most fascinating and memorable ever. I can't help but break out my imitation of him every time I see this movie, or hear it mentioned. He's just a joy to watch, and he's got a really interesting take on the world that is great to experience. He's not the only one who shines here though. J.T. Walsh is chilling as a fellow patient at the hospital, John Ritter is great as the gay friend Vaughan, and Dwight Yoakam is terrific as the loathsome boyfriend.
The film is equal parts funny, sad, and unnerving. It's extremely compelling and unforgettable, and makes for a great watch, although it's probably not something you really want to endure all that often, as it does get very uncomfortable to bear at times.
This one really impresses me, and it's a shame that Thornton hasn't reached the level of greatness that he does here since.
Super Reviewer
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- Karl Childers: French fried pataters.
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- Karl Childers: I like gravy on my fries.
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- Karl Childers: I don't reckon I got any reason to kill anybody. Um..Hmm..
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- Karl Childers: Some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a Kaiser blade.
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- Karl Childers: Coffee makes me nervous when I drink it.
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- Frank Wheatley: Well I hate you!
- Doyle Hargraves: I hate you you little prick!
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