Review of Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994) by Kaitlin L — 25 Mar 2013

"Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade" (1994) is a short film written by and starring Billy Bob Thorton, and it inspired the Oscar-winning feature film "Sling Blade" (1996). This film is about Karl Childers, a partially mentally challenged murderer up for release from an insane asylum. On the day of his departure, a newspaper reporter, played by Molly Ringwald, meets with him for an interview where he explains his life and his crime.

I never actually saw "Sling Blade", but I might try to watch it now. The way Thorton chose to characterize and perform the role was interesting and unique. The acting from Thorton and the other actors as well as Childers' backstory is what intrigues me and makes me want to see the feature. This film seems like it's sort of a prequel to it since it's only about the day of his release, not at all about how he adjusts to life out of the institution. Compared to "The Red Balloon", this has a much darker story and tone with some vulgarity in the dialogue. But if you've seen "Sling Blade" or you're just looking for an interesting short, this would be worth a watch.