Sling Blade
Brief Synopsis
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
The tale of Karl Childers, a mildly retarded man faced with a complex moral dilemma. As a child, Karl was severely abused by his fanatically religious parents, who considered him a punishment from God. When he found his mother sexually entangled with the town bully, Karl believed their actions were wrong--and killed them, swiftly and brutally, with a sling blade. Now, against his will, Karl has been released from an asylum to return to society after twenty-five years. A gifted mechanic, Karl finds work in his small Southern hometown, where he meets young Frank Wheatley. Frank is the first person ever to accept him without fear or judgment; the two become instant friends, and Frank convinces his mother Linda to let Karl live with them. But there's trouble in the Wheatley home: Linda's abusive, narrow-minded boyfriend. Groping to reconcile his own simple moral code with everything he has been taught about right and wrong, Karl must decide whether to stand by and watch, or step in to protect Frank.
Film Details
Technical Specs
Award Wins
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award Nominations
Best Actor
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Expanded Release in United States February 7, 1997
Expanded Release in United States February 14, 1997
Expanded Release in United States February 21, 1997
Expanded Release in United States February 28, 1997
Expanded Release in United States March 7, 1997
Wide Release in United States March 14, 1997
Released in United States on Video July 22, 1997
Released in United States 1996
Released in United States October 1996
Released in United States September 1997
Released in United States October 1997
Shown at New York Film Festival September 27 - October 13, 1996.
Shown at Chicago International Film Festival (in competition) October 10-20, 1996.
Shown at Deauville Film Festival (Panorama) September 5-14, 1997.
Shown at Oldenburg Film Festival in Germany September 3-7, 1997.
Shown at Flanders International Film Festival in Ghent October 7-18, 1997.
Billy Bob Thornton received the 1996 award for Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published from the Writers Guild of America.
Miramax reportedly paid $10 million for the rights.
Feature directorial debut for actor Billy Bob Thornton who previously wrote and starred in the dramatic short "Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade" (USA/1994), directed by George Hickenlooper.
Billy Bob Thornton received the fourth annual Beatrice Wood Film Award, created to honor courageous filmmakers and voted by previous winners who include Hubert Cornfield, Robert Allen Ackerman and Henry Jaglom.
Billy Bob Thornton received a special achievement award for filmmaking in 1996 from the National Board of Review for "Sling Blade" (USA/1996).
Began shooting May 15, 1995.
Completed shooting June 15, 1995.
Expanded wide release in USA March 21, 1997.
Released in United States Fall November 27, 1996
Expanded Release in United States February 7, 1997
Expanded Release in United States February 14, 1997
Expanded Release in United States February 21, 1997
Expanded Release in United States February 28, 1997
Expanded Release in United States March 7, 1997
Wide Release in United States March 14, 1997
Released in United States on Video July 22, 1997
Released in United States 1996 (Shown at New York Film Festival September 27 - October 13, 1996.)
Released in United States 1996 (Shown at Telluride Film Festival August 30 - September 2, 1996.)
Released in United States October 1996 (Shown at AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival (Feats of Clay) October 18-31, 1996.)
Released in United States October 1996 (Shown at Chicago International Film Festival (in competition) October 10-20, 1996.)
Released in United States Fall November 27, 1996
Released in United States September 1997 (Shown at Deauville Film Festival (Panorama) September 5-14, 1997.)
Released in United States September 1997 (Shown at Oldenburg Film Festival in Germany September 3-7, 1997.)
Released in United States October 1997 (Shown at Flanders International Film Festival in Ghent October 7-18, 1997.)
