Parents' Guide to

Hellion

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Wounded characters, iffy behavior in gritty, powerful drama.

Movie R 2014 94 minutes
Hellion Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In a blue-collar Texas town, 13-year-old Jacob (Josh Wiggins) has been getting into trouble lately. And the last time, his 10-year-old brother, Wes (Deke Garner), unexpectedly tagged along. The boys' mother died recently, and their father, Hollis Wilson (Aaron Paul), hasn't been handling it well: He's been drinking and spending time trying to fix up a beach house rather than being around for the boys. Jacob finds an outlet in motocross racing, but the authorities take Wes away and place him with Hollis's sister-in-law, Pam (Juliette Lewis). Can this torn-up family ever find each other again?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The third feature by writer/director Kat Candler, HELLION is a sensitive, soulful character drama with great sympathy. It doesn't judge any of its characters. Jacob is first seen vandalizing a truck, Hollis is a drunk who neglects his kids, and Pam won't let Wes return to his father, but Candler understands each of them -- their motivations, their worries, their fears, and their flaws -- and they emerge as beautifully, heartbreakingly human. Performances, especially by newcomer Wiggins, are exceptionally strong.

Candler's filmmaking benefits from the film's strong small-town, working-class atmosphere, with its run-down, vacant lots and speed metal music. But this approach also applies to her storytelling, which is a bit lax, and more reliant on moods than on logic. In spite of the honest, realistic characters, many scenes play out through happenstance; Hellion could have been better shaped. But at the end, it's hard not to be moved by these characters, their pain, and their love.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Hellion's violence. What draws these young characters toward destroying things and playing with guns? Do you think the consequences of their actions are realistic?

  • What draws the father to drinking? How is the way he deals with pain different from the way his sons handle it?

  • The youngest boy is seen reading The Swiss Family Robinson. What's the significance of that story?

  • How does riding motocross help Jacob? What other examples of constructive outlets are there in the movie?

Movie Details

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