A Single Shot

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A Single Shot

R

2013

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A poacher (Sam Rockwell) becomes the quarry of merciless criminals after he takes the cash he found while hunting in the backwoods.

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Critics Consensus

It has a bleak sense of atmosphere and a terrific performance by Sam Rockwell, but A Single Shot is undercut by its predictable story and slow pace.

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Jessica Kiang

The Playlist

Sep 20, 2013

C+

A Single Shot does not add up to anywhere near the sum of its parts, and as individually impressive as any of those parts might be (Rockwell), we are left with a film that, if not quite a Frankenstein's monster, is certainly patchworky.

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Christy Lemire

RogerEbert.com

Sep 20, 2013

2/4

An odd mix of beautifully bleak atmosphere and hammily mannered performances, "A Single Shot" is simultaneously understated and overpowering.

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Sep 20, 2013

2/4

Both predictable and outlandish.

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Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Mar 24, 2026

This was a rough one. Despite the snail pace torture of the plot, performances are definitely worth acknowledging from Sam Rockwell and Jeffrey Wright

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28, 2025

2/5

"A Single Shot" attempts some key moments to further the suspense, but they are short and not all that captivating.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Mar 30, 2025

2/4

...an exhaustingly tedious endeavor that rarely, if ever, becomes as electrifying (or entertaining) as its premise might’ve indicated...

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Robert P

@Superbad Nov 1, 2026

A Single Shot is a 2 star Movie so why are people giving it 4.5 stars???

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Downriver R

@Downriver Feb 18, 2026

Sam Rockwell made this movie great. I actually loved it and have seen it atleast 10 times. Great acting. Highly highly underrated thriller/drama.

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J B

@RT33214161 Jul 2, 2025

First screne shot . Knew it wasn't the mountains of WV. Dirtbag hunter , kill and only take hind quarters .

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Nicolas P

@RT63228865 Mar 25, 2024

Great cast, terrible movie. Never really gets going, difficult to follow in some parts (must be the editing) and mumbling actors make it difficult to understand the dialogue in certain scenes. I really expected more with Sam Rockwell and William H Macy...

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Dec 13, 2023

A movie that could have shaved its run time by 40 minutes and could have provided the same story in a not long dragged out way.

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J B

@RT87465558 Nov 8, 2023

If I had followed the audience and critics reviews I'd have skipped this movie and I'm so glad I didn't! Sam Rockwell was amazing! His acting is always great but he was stellar in this. It was a slow burn, and I guess maybe there may have been plot holes but personally, having come from the country side myself, LOTS a can happen including gunshots, that no one pays attention to. I loved the story., the pace and the ending. Jeffery Wright was also excellent in this.

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David M. Rosenthal

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Sam Rockwell

John Moon

William H. Macy

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Synopsis

A poacher (Sam Rockwell) becomes the quarry of merciless criminals after he takes the cash he found while hunting in the backwoods.

Director: David M. Rosenthal
Producer: Keith Kjarval, Chris Coen, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jeff Rice
Screenwriter: Matthew F. Jones
Distributor: Tribeca Film
Production Co: Unified Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Nudity|Sexual Content|Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 29, 2014
Runtime: 1h 56m

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