Sling Blade
Sling Blade is a 1996 American drama film written, directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton. Set in Arkansas, it is the story of intellectually challenged Karl Childers and the friendship he develops with a boy and his mother. Karl was released from a psychiatric hospital where he had grown up due to having killed his mother and her lover when he was 12 years old. It also stars Dwight Yoakam, J. T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, James Hampton, and Robert Duvall.
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.
Awards
More details
| author | Billy Bob Thornton |
|---|---|
| award | Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay |
| contentLocation | Arkansas |
| director | Billy Bob Thornton |
| editor | Hughes Winborne |
| genre | drama |
| keywords | 9-1-1 abuse baby baby brother best friend bury disabled even force haunt kill lawn mower living room mental hospital moving in reject rub serial rapist sex crime sexual predator sling blade teenage love wait |
| musicBy | Daniel Lanois |
| nomination | Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay |
| producer | Larry Meistrich |
| productionCompany | TSG Pictures |
| publisher | Miramax Films |
| theme | gothic independent short |