Hellion (2014) User Reviews

Responsible

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 14 April 2014]

Greetings again from the darkness. This is the perfect Film Festival movie: low budget, recognizable star trying something new, up and coming director, and potential star in the making newcomer. While it has an air of familiarity, there was enough here to make it one of my favorites from the 2014 Dallas International Film Festival.

Writer/director Kat Candler has a definite feel for creating real moments for characters, as she expands her 2012 short to feature length. She was also wise enough to nab cinematographer Brett Pawlak, who did such a great job with Short Term 12 (one of my top six films of 2013). The blue collar life gets a twist here as Aaron Paul (on top of the world after "Breaking Bad") plays an alcoholic, emotionally-distant, grieving widower having to deal with his two sons when he can barely make it through a day. This is certainly a different kind of role for Mr. Paul, and he shows real depth with minimal dialogue.

As impressive as Paul is, the real find here is young Josh Wiggins as Jacob. It's his first screen role and he absolutely owns the role of the big brother lashing out at his dad, corrupting his little brother (due to jealousy) and dealing with things that kids his age shouldn't have to. Not to give away much, but one too many incidents leads to a visit from Child Protective Services, and just like that ... the family is torn apart again.

The real guts of the story is the parallel paths of father and son as they react to the displacement of little Wes (Deke Garner). Neither seems to fully accept the role they played in this mess, but both carry sorrow and anger the way males often do. Both pursue their own idea of proving something to Wes and to themselves - in very different ways. Juliette Lewis seems a bit out of place as Paul's sister, and is the only minor misstep in the script. We needed either more on her, or less.

Rural Texas and the challenges of youth are captured through so many details, and the realistic feel of dialogue and setting certainly stands out here ... as does the spot on camera work. This is one of the little movies I am really rooting for, because if it gets a chance, many will share my appreciation.

A good family drama with great performances.

[trublu215 · 7/10 · 17 June 2014]

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.

Not for those who seek a fun movie

[Seraphion · 7/10 · 17 June 2014]

Hellion tells a story of the thirteen-year old Jacob in coping the loss of his mother. He and his motocross-crazed friends get caught up in some quite serious things such as arson and vandalism. Things get worse when the court decides to put his kid brother Wes on foster care, while his often boozed-out father Hollis is also not handling the grief well. One day, Jacob gets drastic by secretly going to Pam's house, Wes' foster care place, with the help of his friends, trying to take Wes. But thing go south among Jacob's friends and he shoots one of them who are fighting.

The basic story is just ordinary for me, though it's a hard example in family loss. But the later development of the story is surely interesting because it displays quite a rough emotion play on the focus of actions and consequences. The ending proves to be a nicely written piece of the story and done very well.

The bad thing is that the pace is too slow. Well I guess that's what happens when you kind of force a short movie into an hour-and-a-half movie, with less material to dramatize about. The mood is quite stable on the low tone. The movie is quite a sleepy one especially for viewers who seek a fun watch.

The cast of up and coming teens and kids actors on the focus of this heavy weight story is a nice decision. In my opinion, the acting presented by those kids is also well beyond expectation. They do live out the characterization well, translating the main story theme into the behavior on screen. I also see the great direction done in guiding the kids to the desired performance level and suitable expressions. Having Aaron Paul and Juliette Lewis surely contribute well to reeling audiences' curiosity.

The end verdict from me is a 7 out of 10 score and a so-so recommendation to go and see this movie. Be warned though, this is not a movie for you who seek a fun watch. But those who appreciate high drama content and deep stories will have a good time watching this movie.

Been There, Done That

[iquine · 6/10 · 10 September 2017]

(Flash Review)

Yep, bad parents leads to troubles kids. Another story of parents that are absent, drunks, immature or all the above. The story revolves around the older son of a father who loses their wife/mother; a very underdeveloped part of the story. So the older kid misbehaves while the father isn't around. Burning things, fighting and hanging around another kids with emotional issues based on dysfunctional families as well. The movie repeats that cycle of behavior more than it needs thus I felt the story was very thin and didn't build on fewer and more interesting nuggets. I would have felt more emotionally engaged had the backstory been there at all. The acting was stellar. Aaron Paul and the older boy had a few really good emotional moments but those were too short and not enough of them. Substandard cinematography. There are better examples of this well-worn subject matter. Had it not been for the acting, I'd of rated this a 4/10.

This dark coming-of-age film is definitely worth seeing.

[bryank-04844 · 7/10 · 15 August 2015]

Texas-based filmmaker Kat Candler delivers a great dramatic story with excellent performances by her actors in her feature film 'Hellion', which is based off of her 2012 short film of the same name. I love when director's get the opportunity to tell their full story on screen from previous short, and 'Hellion' is sure to have audiences talking about it for days to come. Director Jeff Nichols, whose previous film was the award-winning 'Mud', served as executive producer for 'Hellion', which is fitting, because both feature a couple of young adolescent boys in serious adult situations. While some of 'Hellion's script has a few problems, it makes up for it ten-fold with its directing and acting.

We meet 13-year old Jacob Wilson (Josh Wiggins), as he getting into some serious trouble with a group of friends and is caught by the police. The authorities tell him this is his last chance to be a better teenager before he is sentenced to a juvenile detention center. His father Hollis (Aaron Paul), feels like he has failed Jacob and his younger son Wes (Deke Garner) as well, due to the death of his wife, which has caused him to be emotionally and physically absent from his boy's lives. He spends his days either drinking or trying to fix up his beach house in Galveston so that he and his two sons can start over from scratch, but he never seems to get his act together, which is a trait that is passing down to young Jacob.

Meanwhile, Hollis's sister Pam (Juliette Lewis), receives custody of Jacob and Wes due to Hollis's unavailability, which causes a strife between everyone. When Jacob is not getting into trouble with his dead-beat friends or looking after his brother, he is practicing for motor-cross race competition, which seems like the only thing he cares about. But underneath this hardened skin is a gentle soul who want his family back together and not a laughing stock of the small South-Eastern Texas town.

What Candler does well here is capture these two boys and their father's unconditional love for one another, even though they don't wear it on their sleeve. And much like the iconic film 'Stand By Me', 'Hellion' shows a dark and beautiful coming-of-age story about brothers and friends sticking together no matter what obstacle comes their way. With all of these character's faults, you still root for them at their lowest points and at their highest points.

However, there are a few instances in the script where momentum and tension is not being delivered or built, which causes some pacing problems. There is a violent climatic scene that doesn't pack the punch it needs to, because of how things are handled stylistically and editorially. And the buildup to this moment was almost non- existent.

That being said, 'Hellion' delivers on a good story and its excellent performances. I'm sure we will see Josh Wiggins and Aaron Paul winning awards for this soon. And Candler proves she has an incredible eye for capturing the raw and realistic moments of a struggling family who wants a better life. The chemistry between Jacob and Wes is uncanny. This dark coming-of-age film is definitely worth seeing.

A Star is born

[Red_Identity · 28 December 2014]

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.

Slice of Hard Luck Life

[clarkmick33 · 6/10 · 7 January 2015]

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 :-)

Decent film of troubled family life

[encyes · 6/10 · 19 September 2017]

This sad and bittersweet tale of a Father and his two Sons - one innocent, the other a "hellion" - has its share of emotional moments but is too intense in parts and dramatic and depressing. Cinematically - the acting, the directing, the editing, etc. - is all well done, and the story really has the viewer rooting that everything works out in the end. But a plot twist steers it into a disappointing conclusion. This is not a bad movie, just not a cheerful one. The worst part of this decent movie is that the part is not much a stretch for actor Aaron Paul. I was looking forward to seeing Paul play something other than a substance abusing, irresponsible, angry yet tearful Jesse Pinkman character of "Breaking Bad", but in this movie he plays a substance abusing, irresponsible, angry yet tearful Hollis Wilson - Paul with a heavy beard and slight southern drawl.

Incredible acting, but disappointing plot.

[anna_murphy1995 · 3/10 · 23 August 2015]

As I was scouring Sky for an entertaining, captivating film to watch, I stumbled across Hellion, expecting it to fill all my expectations considering it was found under the thriller section. Yes, THRILLER. I found it incredibly dull for a "thriller", as it has an incredibly slow paced plot. For those who are interested in your standard "artsy" film that achieves awards in film festivals, this is the film for you. However, for persons like myself, who enjoy plot twists, adventure and snippets of comedy, this is not the film for you.

Despite my criticisms, I have to commend the performances in the film, as both the young boys and Aaron Paul portray a family's suffering after experiencing bereavement skilfully. Jacob (the eldest in the film) specifically, depicts a confused, emotional teen perfectly and shows great potential. I also admit, the story does highlight the issues brought about by tragedy and loss tremendously. But the entire film feels rather gloomy and negative. However, I feel that the plot would be better suited for a short film, as there appeared to be a lot of unnecessary scenes, which I reiterate, those into "artsy" films may enjoy. I warn you now though, those who enjoy entertaining films that contain slightly more captivating plots, do not attempt to watch it, you'll get bored.

Slow paced and pretty boring! 3/10

[leonblackwood · 3/10 · 24 January 2015]

Review: I found the tone of this movie quite glum and in some ways, pretty depressing. Its based around a man who has lost his wife and struggles to bring up his 2 young sons. The elder son is a young rebel whose always in trouble with the law and the younger son a a sweat child whose in the middle of power struggle between the father, who can't find the time to spend with his children, the sister in-law, who wants the best for the child, and the elderly, son who wants to bring him into his gang. This is the 3rd movie that I have seen this weekend, which is based around the youth of today, controlling there elders and treating them with disrespect. As usual, they end up in trouble and eventually find out, the hard way, that there elders wanted the best for them but the power struggle between the two generations always causes turmoil along the way. This is definitely the case with this film and I found the rebellious kids annoying and frustrating. The dad, played by Aaron Paul, showed a lot of emotion in his role and he played his part well but the pace of the movie is very slow and it doesn't seem to go anywhere. Average! 

Round-Up: Judging by the movies box takings, I'm not alone with thinking that this movie was pretty boring. You also don't get to see any of the characters past and the storyline keeps on referring to the death of the main characters wife, which doesn't get explained. I'm always a bit sceptical when it comes to these Hillie Billie movies were everyone in the town knows everyone's business, because there's always a group of people who get away with murder and no one batters an eyelid. Anyway, Aaron Paul made this film watchable, but all of his movies have been quite moody so I would like to see him take on a different type of role. Maybe that's how he is in real life! After the fantastic Breaking Bad series, his been getting quite a bit of work so he should take this opportunity to show off his acting skills, if he has any. Although the subject matter in this film was deep and meaningful, it didn't really do it for me because I didn't find it entertaining or that interesting.

Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $56,000 (Terrible!)

I recommend this movie to people who are into their deep dramas about a man who struggles to bring up his two young sons after the death of his wife. 3/10

Slow Motion Explosion

[cumberbatchv · 8/10 · 4 August 2014]

I had no expectations going into this film; I hadn't even read the plot summary.

This was a film that had you shout predictability until what I thought would be the climax, came entirely too early and I realized...I had no real idea what was ahead. I found myself having little tolerance or care for Jacob throughout most of the movie, whereas I was overcome with emotions when it came to little Wes. Jacob ended up stealing my heart however and I was surprised at the director's ability to do this.

I noted this as an "explosion" because the build up was serious! It's a common story in much of America, but truly shot in a way that the viewer finds riveting, emotional, and genuine. The acting, from the CPS counselor to Wes, was truthful and accurate. Facial expressions and moments of silence between characters can usually spill the guts on who's new to the game, and I just didn't find that here. A low budget film that will probably not get much viewership, but those that take the time out will not be disappointed.

Painstakingly dull & virtually plot less

[jimbo-53-186511 · 1/10 · 25 July 2015]

Retribution is a very difficult film to get into as it seems devoid of both point and purpose for almost its entire running time. It eventually boils down to a father losing custody of his youngest son due to his unruly behaviour and due to the behaviour of his oldest son Jacob.

The big problem with this film is basically down to how it's actually been set up; this very thin story is about the failings of the father as a parent so therefore you would assume that most of the focus would be on the father himself, but the writers offer very little insight into Hollis as a character - it might have helped if the writers would have fleshed Hollis' character out more in order to make us understand his behaviour. It's mentioned that his wife has died and that he used to be a baseball star etc, but again these are just little threads that are mentioned, but I felt could have been expanded on more. It's very hard for me to get involved in a film when writers don't develop characters as I generally find that I won't care for a film if I'm given no reason to. The film also jumps around all over the place and just rambles on and on until eventually we get to the 'point' of the film about 10-15 minutes from the end. Aside from the father, the rest of the characters are rather one-note and shallow and as I've already mentioned this was a very hard film for me to care about.

The film has a sub-plot involving his eldest son competing in a motor-cross competition which didn't really go anywhere and seemed kind of pointless.

The only positive thing I can say about this film is that Aaron Paul was excellent and did everything he could with the material that he was given to work with. However that is the only good thing about this truly terrible film.

Struggles of boyhood

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 15 July 2015]

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.

An average coming of age tale with a strong performance from Josh Wiggins

[estebangonzalez10 · 5/10 · 29 January 2015]

"What are you troublemakers up to?

Based on Kat Candler's own short film, Hellion is a movie that tries to explore the life of a thirteen year old boy named Jacob (Josh Wiggins) who has recently lost his mother, and to make things worse his father (Aaron Paul) has been emotionally absent while drowning himself in booze. It is no surprise that Jacob has been expressing his rebellion by participating in several acts of vandalism along with his neighborhood friends. When word gets out that his little brother, Wes (Deke Garner), is being dragged into this lifestyle, CPS places him in the care of their Aunt Pam (Juliette Lewis). Hollis loves his children, but he is still hurting for the loss of their mother and when he realizes that he is also losing his children he tries to change, but the focus of the film is on Jacob who thinks he can make things right by winning a local dirt bike competition. This is a coming of age film that tries to portray the family dynamics in an authentic way, but it never fully avoids the genre clichés. Hellion lacks some subtlety, but it benefits from a strong lead performance from Josh Wiggins. Besides directing, Candler wrote the screenplay for this film in which she has no intention of shining a light on the innocence of this kid, but rather portraying him as a victim of his circumstance due to the neglect of his father. Somehow the film failed to connect with me and I wouldn't recommend it over other brilliant coming of age films. Clocking at just under 100 minutes the pacing of the film does seem to be a problem as well and many scenes could've been cut out of the movie. We are repeatedly batted over the head with Jacob's rebellious behavior and it got a bit tiresome after a while. The soundtrack consists of mostly heavy metal tracks which both Jacob and his father like to indulge in while at home. The story takes place in a small southern Texas town which is gorgeously captured by Brett Pawlak's shaky cameras. Unfortunately everything that Hellion tries to say has been said before in other better films.

What Hellion has going for it are the strong performances. Josh Wiggins is outstanding as the lead character in the film. It is hard to get a good performance from young teen actors at times, but Wiggins is a natural and he delivers an authentic portrayal of a troubled teen who is struggling to understand why the world has turned its back on him. Deke Garner plays his younger brother in a subtle manner. He is mostly a sponge that tries to absorb what the people around him say to him. Garner had worked with Candler in the short which this film is based on. Imagine if Aaron Paul's character from Breaking Bad would've been rehabilitated after finding a lovely wife and having two children with her. Later he loses his wife and falls in despair all over again, but instead of drowning his sorrows in drugs he does so with booze. Paul is playing this character full of anger once again who doesn't seem to know how to raise his children on his own. It was refreshing to see Juliette Lewis playing a normal role and trying to be a good role model for her nephews. This is Josh Wiggins movie and he elevates the material in such a way that he makes this a watchable experience despite lacking originality and subtlety.

An honest and heartfelt story about the consequences of a family's loss

[info-275-650971 · 9/10 · 16 June 2014]

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.

Clean, tight, beautifully shot film with breathtaking performances

[claronow-4-815850 · 9/10 · 18 May 2014]

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 powerful story of fathers, sons and the loss of innocence.

[ben3308 · 10/10 · 1 June 2014]

I decided a few months in advance that I wanted to attend Sundance 2014 with some friends; something I'd been meaning to do for years. Imagine my surprise when I looked over the festival program and saw 'Hellion', directed by Kat Candler -- a faculty member at The University of Texas, my alma mater. I'd known a bit about the development of the film through the school, and that it had been a short film previously, and so I committed to seeing it at the fest. Even more surprising when I got in line for tickets, the film was sold out!

Around Sundance, there was lots of buzz about 'Hellion' and its breakout performances (Josh Wiggins as a child actor, and Aaron Paul in a starring independent feature film role). Impressed by the hype from a film whose director we sort of 'knew', my friends and I all decided to leave other screenings early to waitlist the film. When the waitlist opened, the waitlist tickets were gone within SECONDS. One of my group was lucky enough to snag the first spot in the waitlist by chance, and so he gratefully surrendered his ticket to me as the rest of the group huddled outside in the Utah cold. The film was THAT big of a deal.

I made my way into the theater in Park City and sat front row, a few seats down from Candler and the producers, eager to see if the film lived up to the hype. The doors to the theater closed, the lights dimmed, and the film rolled.

The film was incredible. Not only did it live up to the hype, it far surpassed it. I was floored by the deft direction and approach to adolescent volatility. I knew through UT that Candler was talented, but was genuinely shocked by the writing, direction, creative use of production values and (perhaps most importantly) the story.

'Hellion' was a monumental film that everyone in my group at Sundance was itching to see -- and one that even more were eager to praise. I think films about fathers, sons, and brotherhood really strike a chord in modern parlance, and this fired on all cylinders in that regard.

Although I admittedly wasn't the hugest fan of the original short film (heavy metal has never been my favorite of music, so I'm a little biased) I think that the expansion to the longer-form feature was really what the concept deserved; and Candler capitalizes spectacularly on this medium.

The result is an immensely entertaining, meaningful piece that really connected these common threads of truth in troubled family relationships. As a former University of Texas student, I was very proud to have seen the film at Sundance, and hope the future holds even greater successes for Candler and her producers.

'Hellion' is everything you hope for from an independent film and more. It's thoroughly entertaining, evenly-paced, and manages to develop a strong message by the time its final frame hits the screen. Seeing 'Hellion' was a meaningful experience, and one I will not soon forget.

10/10

Kat Candler tells a powerful tale of loss and responsibility

[tarantinofan14 · 8/10 · 15 May 2014]

The loss of a loved one is a devastating occurrence that's never easy to cope with. Some families can handle it with strength and composure. Some are less successful and fall apart. Kat Candler's Hellion, an expansion of her 2012 short of the same name, is a searing portrayal of the latter. We meet this family in a state of total disarray and follow them as they struggle to reconnect their tattered bonds, with near-disastrous results. It's not an easy film to watch, but because Candler portrays this journey in such an earnest and compelling fashion, and because she has great help from a wonderful cast of both experienced actors and up-and-comers, you can't take your eyes off of the screen.

When we meet Hollis (Aaron Paul) and his two sons, Jacob (Josh Wiggins) and his younger brother, Wes (Deke Garner), they have already lost their wife/mother. Hollis has basically abandoned his children, spending his days renovating a hurricane-ravaged beach house where they were all planning to move to before the tragedy. Jacob has become a troublemaker, doing everything from trespassing to property destruction. Within the film's opening minutes, we witness him and his buddies smashing up and setting fire to a truck. What's worse is that Jacob involves Wes in his law-breaking excursions. When they see the conditions in which he is living, Child Protective Services decides to place Wes in the custody of his Aunt Pam (Juliette Lewis). This serves as a wake-up call to both Jacob and Hollis, who decide to get their acts together and create a more suitable environment for the youngster. Jacob sets his sights on competitive motocross racing, while Hollis aims to finish up the beach house.

Candler, a native Texan, and cinematographer Brett Pawlak (doing stunning work) really capture the natural feel of her southern setting. The on-location shooting gives the film an authentic feel, as well as serves as a sort of love letter to her home state. You can sense how passionate Candler is about Texas through the ways in which it is lensed. This is not Hollywood fakery. The authentic feel of the locations helps to build upon the authentic feel of the story. Its impact is much more powerful because of this. Also notable is the use of heavy metal music, something not usually present in this type of story. It serves as a way of conveying the anger the boys are feeling in their current situation. It's an extra touch that works perfectly and makes this stand out from similar films.

The two big name actors in this film, Aaron Paul and Juliette Lewis, are both fantastic. Paul makes Hollis, an absent father, into a more sympathetic figure than he could've been. Although we don't always agree with what Hollis does, we feel the pain that he does, and so we understand where he's coming from. This is a wonderful addition to his post-Breaking Bad career. Lewis, given a chance to play a more grounded character than the wackier roles she's known for, does an equally great job. Though not his mother, it's clear that Pam loves Wes and wants what's best for him.

However, as good as Paul and Lewis are, the real stars of this film are the newcomers. Josh Wiggins, a star in the making, perfectly captures all of the emotions needed to portray the troubled Jacob, from love and happiness to anger and desperation. He is game for whatever is needed of him, which is great considering he has to go to some dark places. Equally solid is Deke Garner as the younger brother caught up in circumstances he doesn't fully understand. He serves as the heart of the film, motivating the actions of Jacob, Hollis, and Pam. Providing able support are the kids playing Jacob's cronies. Candler has selected an incredibly talented young whom we will hopefully see up on screen more frequently.

Between the acting, the direction, the cinematography, and the themes of loss and responsibility, Hellion is one of the best and most powerful films released thus far in 2014. Though it may not break new ground in terms of its story, Candler brings a unique-enough feel to it to make it stand out. Apparently she is currently working on a feature expansion of another great short of hers, Black Metal. Based on the level of quality present in this, that can't come out soon enough!

Well-acted domestic drama about a family fumbling through their grief

[george.schmidt · 8/10 · 15 June 2014]

HELLION (2014) ** 1/2 Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner, Dalton Sutton, Camron Owens, Dylan Cole, Jonny Mars. Well-acted domestic drama about a family fumbling through their grief over the sudden loss of the mother with her husband (Paul, low-key yet very affective) drinking his pains away and their sons (Wiggins, a natural and equally affective turn, who reminds me of a young Kevin Bacon, and Garner), the eldest the titular end result. Lewis is equally low-key as the concerned aunt. While filmmaker Kat Candler elicits fine work from her actors the script leaves much to be desired and more fleshed out. While there are so many outlets for the characters to explore each road feels abandoned.

Aaron Paul nails it!

[zdoshi · 8/10 · 3 July 2016]

Like most of the American population, I chose this movie because I'm a Breaking Bad fan. I know Aaron Paul as Jesse, a more or less, kid. In this movie, I couldn't believe that it was Pinkman as somebody's...dad. He nailed it!

The kids were great actors as well. This movie was so emotional and you felt uncomfortable so many times. Not uncomfortable because the movie was "disturbing", more like uncomfortable because this could be anyone's family, even yours. Even good people can just lose their mind in the face of tragedy.

The movie doesn't need a fast paced story to keep you on the edge of your seat. You can't help but get invested so much in the characters. The ending is perfect.

Good . . . American . . . cinema.

[griz1-199-491493 · 8/10 · 8 September 2019]

As a foreigner traveling in America, I would classify this as . . .exemplary Amercian Cinema. The inclusion of guns and authority issues noted. But this is raw, truthful American cinema; no Hollywood/Disney fluff. This is the purest kind of family tauma about the remnants of a family trying to stay together. Again, the "Amercicanisms" of guns and violence and famly dysfunctionality overlooked, this is just good American drama. Kudos to the cast and writers.

When bad things happen to good people

[abcvision · 8/10 · 17 July 2014]

Kids that are too much to handle are often referred to as hellions. The movie by the same name follows the Wilson family where the father is struggling single dad trying to raise his rambunctious two boys. The boys seem to get into all type of troubles and the opening scene shows how they seem to be in the wrong crowd. This movie does a good job of showing how sometimes bad things happen to good people. How a few bad decisions can put you in spiral that can put your life out of control. It also showcases the difficulty of a middle class family in making it. A small release film but a powerful story of those kids that always seem to be on the wrong place all the time. I enjoyed the movie and Juliet Lewis creates a believable role in the caring aunt. Dr Wilson Trivino

Raising this 'Hellion'

[ElvenPrincess2004 · 10/10 · 14 May 2014]

On a spur of the moment, I decided to go to the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 18 despite me already planning to attend Jan. 24-25. When a previous co-worker suggested going, my husband and I decided to go as well to see if we could see any stars in Park City as well as check if there were any tickets available at the box office. Not surprisingly, we were unable to attend a film in Park City but we were able to score tickets to two films in Salt Lake City theaters, a bit less than an hour away. One of the films we watched was "Hellion", an entry in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, a movie I highly recommend to everybody. In "Hellion", Aaron Paul, who many may know as Jesse Pinkman in the television show "Breaking Bad", stars as a father struggling raising two sons during a time of turmoil.

The dictionary entry for hellion is a disorderly, troublesome, rowdy or mischievous person. This definition perfectly describes Jacob, the 13-year-old son of Hollis. Soon after the film begins, Jacob is seen smashing the windows of a vehicle and lighting it on fire. Jacob is discovered and receives in-school suspension and is threatened with being sent to a youth detention center. Jacob's aunt notes that he is gaining quite a negative reputation in the community. Despite Jacob's knack for destruction of property and getting into fights, he has a huge heart and loves his 10-year-old brother named Wes. Jacob invites Wes along when he goes on his escapades with his friends. Jacob may be leading his younger brother on the path of juvenile delinquency but he is always ready to protect Wes from harm.

Hollis is a single father and has been a wreck since the death of his wife. In the film, Hollis is seen visiting a roadside cross, letting the audience assume the boys' mother died abruptly during an automobile accident. Hollis loves his sons but he hasn't been the best parent after the tragedy. The audience learns that Hollis disappeared for three weeks after his wife died and he left his sons in the care of their aunt. Hollis is often not home to care for his boys. Instead he is seen working on constructing a home in Galveston where his wife wanted her family to live. Hollis' home is unkempt with trash scattered everywhere and a pile of dishes still dirty in the sink. Hollis also drinks a lot to cope with the pain of his life.

One day while Jacob and Wes are home when their father is away, child protective service workers arrive. Of course the house is a mess and it appears the boys are not in a good living situation. The child protective service workers frown upon Wes being watched by his brother who is on probation. Wes is then separated from Jacob and the younger brother goes with his aunt to live. Hollis is understandably upset and is told in order to reclaim his son, he must attend every scheduled court date, weekly counseling and to stop drinking. This is a difficult feat for Hollis and the possibility of raising both of his sons under his roof seems dim. Jacob is devastated and wants to do anything necessary in order to bring back Wes to live with him and their father. Wes becomes less interested in hanging out with Jacob and his aunt seems intent on not allowing the two brothers to spend a lot of time together. Jacob plans to attend a motocross event hoping that qualifying for nationals will somehow bring Wes home. When the boys' aunt announces her intention to move to a different location, Jacob desires to do everything in his power to bring Wes home.

"Hellion" is a very powerful film. Aaron Paul, as well as the boys, convey their emotions very well. There were multiple moments where I felt moved and became teary-eyed. "Hellion" is more than just about a hellion child disrupting his family's life. Relationships between father and son are explored as well as the deep grief that can occur after the loss of a loved one. Hollis appears to be a good person with a lot of love for his sons. I don't think he is a bad father but his choices after his wife's death may be fracturing his family even further. An important lesson throughout the film, particularly for Hollis and Jacob, is that you must be responsible for your actions even if it is a difficult task. I can't tell you when you can watch "Hellion" on video because it still needs to be distributed for an audience to see, but definitely keep this title on your radar for an emotional family drama that was well worth a spur-of-the-moment trip to Park City to see if there were any Sundance Film Festival tickets available.

Awesome

[seanxbox34 · 9/10 · 21 June 2014]

*****Hint hint****** A little spoiler but it won't wreck the movie***

I thought this movie was awesome, it's a kinda movie that you want to watch with your dad and brother because it shows how close you need to be with them. I was really blown away by this movie, the casting was pretty good too, Overall a movie you will want to watch again and share with your friends. The story seemed so real, like I watched it online so I could have looked up if it was a true story but I just watched it and by the end I was sure it was. The one thing that drew me away was the poster, I know the boy did motocross but the poster could have been better, I mean that really doesn't matter because the movie was awesome. I would and will watch this later for sure!

Outstanding everything but disappointing ending

[Layput · 10/10 · 24 June 2014]

This is probably one of the best acted, directed, and written films I have ever seen since "Boys don't cry" some 15 years ago. But of course, we still have yet to see the day when we can have a perfect movie with elements perfectly mixed together. And as I said, the ending in this movie quite disappoints and could summarily leave you hanging, wanting for more, and angry. I can understand why it did not perform quite as well at the box office despite its raving reviews.

Being a fan of Aaron Paul's acting, I decided to check this movie out if the director could handle how to steer what Aaron Paul can offer. It was actually quite a revelation. And to my surprise, it was not Aaron's acting that became memorable in the film but that of a young newcomer Josh Wiggins. I could not praise his performance highly enough for such a young age. This boy is rare. You know, in a single scene, it could take at least two takes from different perspectives to capture the dialog and screen time of each of the characters and I believe Josh Wiggins was able to replicate those emotions in each of them perfectly. The scene in the pizza parlor is something to behold.

This film is really a story about an emotionally-encumbered teenage boy and not about a man who has lost his wife and who is left to take care of his young sons. It's no surprise there that Aaron's part came out as something of a supporting role. But it is not to be lamented as Josh Wiggins' and the other boys' performances were more than enough to make up for it. Dalton Sutton's performance as a young emotionally affected boy is also worthy of being noticed.

The dialogs are terrifyingly authentic. The continuity and flow of conversation were so sublime, you would think you are watching a real life conversation from real people. I just kind of felt disturbed by how explicit the language these young boys used. I know that although it is just a film, I believe it reflects a certain level of parallels on what the real American society looks like and how American kids could potentially react violently to the deterioration or destruction of their families. It is actually a truth being told in big screen. And if the recent events will tell us, this truth would be difficult to swallow.

All in all, I really like this film. But in the ending, I wish Hollis ran for Jacob when he was about to be arrested. It would have been the point in the story where Hollis could have made Jacob feel that he was never alone. I mean, as a parent, you can escort your underage son to jail. It does not mean you are getting the blame or letting him go, it's just giving him the moral support at the time when he needs it most and is a way of reassuring him that everything is going to be alright. And in the process, would have made us more satisfied.