Review of A Single Shot (2013) by Patrick L — 13 Oct 2013

A Single Shot was a movie I went into with high expectations, despite the stale plot. A kin to a watered down "No Country for Old Men", "A Single Shot" fails to deliver a believable set of circumstances for its characters. Through sequences of mild dialogue and choppy character decisions this movie lets you forget all together that the main character murdering someone was the main event. Faint glimpses of decent noir flash across your screen occasionally, but ultimately the movie builds to a climax that is much like an awful orgasm with extra thrusts added for good measure.

The movie is built entirely around its protagonist, don't let William H. Macy's appearance fool you, there will be no room for supporting actor awards from indie movie blogs on this one. The most tragic part of having one character eat most of the screen time, is that almost all of the predicaments the film that are beset upon the protagonist are done so by himself. In the end this movie leaves its protagonist, who was meant to look like a good hearted, rugged outdoorsman, looking like a dumb, backwoods degenerate living in a trailer. Which is sad.

All in all the movie gives a bleak asthetic that numbs you from the pain of the overdone plot and droning and predictable dialogue for about four fifths of the run time. The last fifth serves up a hasty ending, with no emotional charge in the final minutes. Watching our main character die from having his finger cut off is one of the most disappointing endings I have seen yet, and undoubtedly one of the most drawn out climax's you will witness any time soon.