I had high hopes for this film, after seeing the short that it was the inspiration for (see Some Folks call it a Sling Blade). The short was both sad and terrifying--Karl Childers is shown as being both a traumatized individual whose childhood horrifies us and someone who terrifies us with the thought that he might be walking among us. However, in the film, the character is changed to a Charly-type: slightly mentally slow (although at times very bright and insightful which didn't seem to trouble Billy Bob Thornton as writer or directer at all) but a good hearted and kind person. The characters are all unbelievable. The main part of the story, Karl's friendship with a young boy, is the most unbelievable part of the story--the boy is not presented as enough of a "loser" to explain why he would form a friendship with someone like Karl. Ever seen this happen in real life? In real life, he would try to raise his standing among his friends by making fun of someone like Karl. Then, we are to believe that, somehow, the mental hospital/prison Karl was in provided nothing in the way of transition living, but somehow he learned small engine repair there well enough to be given a job by (an unbelievably good) person. Despite being institutionalized most of his life and living in a hole the rest of it, Karl somehow has obtained job skills that would be the envy of many employers. That's believable? Then, after knowing him for only a few days, Karl informs the boy's mother that he was in prison for murdering two people--including his mother. The boy's mother reacts as if Karl just told her he was in jail for writing a bad check. I don't care how nice a person you are, you would be concerned about this and would certainly limit your child's time with someone like this--wouldn't you? That's believable? Then there is the mother's boyfriend who, in contrast to everybody else in the movie who seems to be a refugee from the set of the Andy Griffith Show, makes Hannibal Lector look like someone who you'd like to see your daughter dating. He is so one-dimensionally bad that he, too, isn't believable. You know what is going to happen in the film after about 2 minutes of seeing him. All you do is wait to see how it happens. No surprises there! Want another example of how unbelievable the story is? The little hole that Karl dug to sleep in is still nicely preserved in the back shed--even has all the junk conveniently piled around it when he goes back to see it 25 years later. 25 years later? Junk everywhere, but the little hole is still the way it was? The directing is terrible--just once it would have been nice to see a close-up shot of the actors--just to see if they can really act. Thorton's acting, powerful in the short film, becomes downright silly as the mannerisms which made him sad and terrifying in the short, seem to occur only sporadically in the movie version. The film is a trite view of the trauma of horrible child abuse and the difficulties people with mental disabilities have coping with life. Do yourself a favor. See the short--skip the film.
Review of Sling Blade
