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Sling Blade
Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man, has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 for killing his mother and her lover. Although thoroughly institutionalized, he is deemed fit to be released into the outside world.
1996 · Directed by Billy Bob Thornton · 135 min · Drama · Screenplay in the scene database · 5 frames
Tagline
A simple man. A difficult choice.
Plot
Karl Childers is a developmentally disabled Arkansas man whose parents physically and mentally abused him when he was young. He has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 after murdering his mother and her teenage lover, who was also his tormentor, with a sling blade. Karl believed his mother was being raped and killed the teen in her defense. When he realized his mother was a willing participant in the affair, Karl killed her as well.
As a passive person, Karl spends his days quietly staring out a window at an open field and wringing his hands together. He is often forced by Charles, a fellow patient, to listen to his stories about unsolved crimes of murder and rape. Charles was, unbeknownst to the hospital, a serial killer. The state determines that Karl is no longer dangerous and releases him. Karl wants to stay, but is told that he has to leave. He goes back to his hometown, where he finds work as a small engine mechanic.
Karl befriends 12-year-old Frank Wheatley and shares details of his past, including the killings. Frank introduces Karl to his mother, Linda, and her gay best friend and boss, Vaughan. Vaughan is concerned about Karl's history, but Linda asks him to move into her garage, which her abusive and alcoholic boyfriend Doyle begrudgingly accepts. Vaughan tells Karl that he fears Doyle could hurt or kill Linda and Frank one day.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Billy Bob Thornton
- Cinematography: Barry Markowitz
- Edited by: Hughes Winborne
- Music: Daniel Lanois
- Production design: Clark Hunter
- Produced by: Brandon Rosser, David L. Bushell
Cast
- Billy Bob Thornton as Karl Childers
- Dwight Yoakam as Doyle Hargraves
- J.T. Walsh as Charles Bushman
- John Ritter as Vaughan Cunningham
- Lucas Black as Frank Wheatley
- Natalie Canerday as Linda Wheatley
- James Hampton as Jerry Woolridge
- Robert Duvall as Karl's Father
- Rick Dial as Bill Cox
- Brent Briscoe as Scooter Hodges
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Miramax, The Shooting Gallery
- Budget: $1,200,000
- Box office: $34,100,000
- Themes: arkansas, repair shop, southern, death threat, religious art, father figure, intellectual disability
On this film
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