Tss5078
Coming of age films are a dime a dozen, and what it really comes down to is the strength of the young actor or actress. The way it usually works out is that the better they are, the better the film is, and when it comes to Hellion, casting was dead on, but there was also something else that made this one special. After losing his mother, Jacob Wilson (Josh Wiggins) started acting out. Maybe his fathers transformation into a full blown alcoholic had something to do with it, or maybe it's the fact that he's left to be the adult and take care of his little brother that's the problem, but whatever the case it gets a whole lot worse. After stupid teenaged behavior causes his younger brother to be taken away and placed with his aunt, Jacob has to become the adult and convince his father to clean up in order to bring his little brother home, a herculean task, when you consider the fact that Jacob himself is still a wreck. The young star of the film, newcomer Josh Wiggins is absolutely terrific, outshining multiple award winning actors and actresses in this film, but he's not the only difference here. Hellion takes on the dark southern poverty stricken surreal feeling of other similar films that have become extremely popular in recent years. Similar to Winter's Bone, Joe, and Mud, there is an aspect to this film that is methodical and real. It's almost like you aren't watching a movie, you're just seeing real life unfold in front of your eyes. This combined with an extraordinary young talent made this extremely enjoyable to watch. Everything was very raw, emotional, and just real, a credit to both the writer, director, and cast involved in Hellion. This style is fairly new in cinema and has really defined the 2010s era, to see it combined with something that was so relate-able made for a very special film.
Prismark10
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.
clarkmick33
I was confused that they made this a full length movie and thought really this could better as a TV show or mini-series. Giving more of a background to the challenges the family has come across and an understanding of the community and the fathers relationships in the community. The back luck situation was typical of many TV dramas. Husband loses Wife and gets depressed resulting in a diet of beer and fast food and emotional distancing for the family. Nothing really fresh. However I admire that the story does not go Disney and the characters and development of events are quite believable. So if you want a look into the life of hard knocks and love Mid-West accents this is the movie for you :-)
Thomas Blume
To be honest I went to the screening with mixed feelings. On the one side I love Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad. On the other side the Trailer did somehow not really make me super excited...Just a few minutes into the movie I was fascinated by the role of Jacob, played by Josh Wiggins. Knowing this is the very first movie he ever played in the result is stunning. I loved the development of his slightly dark character to a person having a goal (to win the motorbike race) and in the end taking the consequences for his actions. Despite his role being aggressive trashing cars or putting things on fire and even pulling his little brother into his nighttime outings with his "crew", his acting somewhere always keeps you believing that there is a good side in him.The Movie is the classic drama based on family tensions after the death of the mother, alcohol, loss, hope, joy, love, fear and even pride. The focus and development of the characters really drives the film. I really started to care for the family and wished for a happy end. Spoiler Alert here. There is no happy end. But I found myself continuously thinking about the end of the movie. "What is going to happen to the boys? Will everything gonna be alright?" Probably it won't be, But this Movie makes you feel and hope, against all the odds , that it will be good. For me one of the best Dramas I have seen in 2014. Definitely a must watch Movie.
AD
