that Billy Bob Thornton's Slingblade (1996) is a modern classic would go largely undisputed. but few may have had the opportunity to see Thornton's original 20-minute play, Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994), upon which the full-length film was later based. this tiny black & white drama, directed by George Hickenlooper (Hearts of Darkness, The Brass Ring), takes place entirely in the psychiatric hospital where the longer film only begins, and stars Molly Ringwald (as the young reporter) and J.T. Walsh in the identical role he would later duplicate in SB the latter. as much as the feature version may deserve its high praise, the '94 short still packs a considerable whallop and, for my two cents, succeeds in distilling Thonton's Karl character down to his bare little essence, with no further story required. judge for yourself.

SOME FOLKS CALL IT A SLING BLADE :: 25 MIN. FILM (PC ONLY)