Hellion

Hellion tells the story of a delinquent, rebellious teenager named Jacob who is coasting through life on fumes. He lives in a low income home with his emotionally absent father, Hollis (played brilliantly by Aaron Paul). The story chronicles the growth between the two and proves that you can become a man at any age whether you are 13 or 40. While Hellion delivers a heavy handed message through heavy metal and motocross, the story is very bare bones and when some nice meaty scenes come our way, they are done and over with in thirty seconds. This never really allows us to truly connect to these characters in the way that director Kat Candler wants us to. The only thing that really keeps us connected to the story (or lack thereof) are the actors. There is not one bad performance in this film and that is a huge compliment to all those involved, especially when you take subject matter as melodramatic as this is. Aaron Paul gives a subtle and controlled performance as Hollis, a disillusioned father who surrounds his boys with figures from his unsavory lifestyle. What Aaron Paul does best is convey pain just by moving his eyes a certain way, and this film really showcases this man's talent. Child actor Josh Wiggins gives another powerhouse performance as Jacob, an unruly and emotionally unstable teenager. Not since Tye Sheridan have I seen a child actor this good and I am truly excited to see what he does next. The supporting cast includes Juliette Lewis doing what she does best, playing a white trash mother-figure that tries to do right. While she has made a career out of playing this type of character, this does it better than any other actress could. The direction and writing is sub par compared to the talent in front of the camera. The story is jumbled and, at times, a bit unrealistic and some of the dialog is a little heavy handed no matter how well Aaron Paul can deliver it. Overall, Hellion is a decent indie drama that is sure to turn heads because of Aaron Paul and Josh Wiggins, but other than that, there's not too much to it.

My review title is basically what it comes down to. The film is fine, not really original, not that great, but well-done enough. The script has clichés but that doesn't mean it's not effective, and the direction well-observed. Really, the cinematography is exquisite, although not necessarily surprising. It has that certain sort of glare that so many indies these days have, and in ways it helps it aesthetically, even if at times it does seem a bit too overly self-conscious. It's fine though, it's not a huge deal and it mostly works well enough. Aaron Paul is good, he's great at this kind of misery stuff, but Josh Wiggins is a star in the making, similar to Tye Sheridan in his naturalism.

Hellion also known as Retribution is a slight tale from writer and director Kat Candler which has slow, unrushed placing.

The film chronicles a family on the edge of destruction in rural Southeast Texas. Jacob Wilson (Josh Wiggins) likes heavy metal and loves motocross biking. He and his mates also get into vandalism and arson. Unfortunately for them, for every wrong move they make the police are immediately on to them.

His father Hollis (Aaron Paul) is also broken. He his grieving over the loss of his wife, drinks too much and not spending enough time to look after his two children, their house is squalid. Hollis was a one time local baseball star. His actions also brings him to the attention of the police. The behaviour of both puts the younger son Wes at risk and into the hands of the child protection services who have him fostered out to his aunt Pam (Juliette Lewis.)

Things take a turn for the worse when Jacob and his gang go to the aunt's house to visit Wes.

The film has naturalistic performances from the child actors which is the big plus for the film. Everything is low key, fatalistic even. The only thing sunny here is the weather. The pacing is uneven as the film is a slow burner. There is too much contrivances, the police seem to be always there when there is trouble which is hard to swallow.

There is irony to see Lewis being terrorised at the end of the movie from a gang of kids, after all she did her share of terrorising twenty years ago in films like Natural Born Killers.

I was lucky enough to see this movie at Sundance 2014. Let's start at the beginning with the first notes of the metal soundtrack writer and director Kat Candler has chosen to infuse this movie with a unique, dark but powerful energy. The music sets the tone perfectly for the roiling anger and frustration the characters wrestle with in this film.

I won't go too much into the plot because part of what is beautiful about this movie is how the story unfolds and watching the characters ride the roller coaster of loss, hope, joy, love, fear, pride - all of it. It's amazing that in such a short amount of time, Candler can find all those moments, no matter how fleeting. Much of that comes from the script, but it wouldn't be so successfully conveyed without the strength of her performers.

I have not watched Breaking Bad so I came into this with no preconceived ideas of Aaron Paul as an actor. He is fantastic in this movie. As a father who has lost his anchor with the death of his wife, you can see him struggling with his own demons as he also knows he has to do right by his sons. Newcomer Josh Wiggins has a face that shows everything, every wince of hurt and disappointment and every twinkle of mischief. The supporting cast is also phenomenal. The kids are all actors who are new to film and yet they are completely natural and you will feel deeply for each of them. Juliette Lewis, an actress I have never seen act beyond her quirkiness, gives the most grounded, authentic performance I have ever seen from her.

This movie is being released nationally this summer in theaters and on VOD. Don't miss it.

A heartfelt story delivered in a subtle and effective way reminiscent of David Gordon Green's, JOE, and Jeff Nichols', MUD (I wasn't surprised to see Jeff's name in the credits).

Nicely understated, beautifully shot and with a great breakout performance from Josh Wiggins. Aaron Paul avoids what could otherwise be a clichéd father-gone-wrong with a beautifully underplayed performance. The incomparable Juliette Lewis brings a vulnerability to one of the least fragile characters she's ever played and overall HELLION breathes easily throughout its ebbs and flows.

Kat Candler did a great job in the director's chair and Aaron Paul should be commended for his support of emerging filmmakers and independent film.