Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wounded characters, iffy behavior in gritty, powerful drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hellion
Parent and Kid Reviews
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?
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
- In theaters : June 13, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : September 30, 2014
- Cast : Aaron Paul , Juliette Lewis , Josh Wiggins
- Director : Kat Candler
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : IFC Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language
- Last updated : July 28, 2022
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