Themes: Feuds, Sibling Relationships, Death of a Parent
Main Cast: Michael Shannon, Douglas Ligon, Barlow Jacobs, Michael Abbott, Jr., Travis Smith
Release Year: 2007
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Two families linked by the same father explode into a violent rivalry in this independent Southern gothic drama, the first feature from director Jeff Nichols. Cleaman Hayes lived and died in Little Rock, AR, where he had seven sons by two different women. After wedding Nicole (Natalie Canerday), Cleaman sired three sons, and his lack of concern for their future was reflected in the fact he barely gave them names -- they were dubbed Son (Michael Shannon), Kid (Barlow Jacobs) and Boy (Douglas Ligon). One day, Cleaman abandoned his wife and sons, and left them to survive in deep poverty that has trapped them to this day. Eventually Cleaman cleaned up his act, launched a successful business, married again, and raised four more sons -- Cleaman Jr. (Michael Abbott, Jr.), Mark (Travis Smith), Stephen (Lynsee Provence) and John (David Rhodes), all of whom were given the love and attention Cleaman denied his first three children. When Cleaman dies, all seven sons attend the funeral, and Son, overcome by bitterness, spits on his father's coffin and tells everyone how much he hated the man. Short tempered Mark answers Son with his fists, and a free-for-all breaks out between the two Hayes families. The anger and rivalry doesn't end at the end of the day, and soon a war has broken out between the clans, with no small amount of blood shed on either side. Shotgun Stories received its North American premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Lynsee Provence - Stephen Hayes; David Rhodes - John Hayes; Glenda Pannell - Annie Hayes; G. Alan Wilkins - Shampoo Douglas; Natalie Canerday - Nicole Hayes; Coley Canpany - Cheryl; Cole Hendrixson - Carter Hayes
Credit
Tisha Gribble - Associate Producer, Paul Skidmore - Associate Producer, Rachel Worthen - Costume Designer, Cosmo Pfeil - First Assistant Director, Jeff Nichols - Director, Steven Gonzales - Editor, Todd Williams - Executive Producer, Nick Thurlow - Executive Producer, John Portnoy - Executive Producer, Lucero - Composer (Music Score), Ben Nichols - Composer (Music Score), Lindsay Millar - Production Designer, Adam Stone - Cinematographer, David Gordon Green - Producer, Lisa Muskat - Producer, Jeff Nichols - Producer, Nick Thurlow - Producer, John Portnoy - Producer, Hayden Jackson - Sound/Sound Designer, Jeff Nichols - Screenwriter
Shotgun Stories is a 2007drama film about a feud between two sets of half-brothers following the death of their father in rural Arkansas. The film was written and directed by Jeff Nichols, and stars Michael Shannon, Barlow Jacobs, and Glenda Pannell.
Son Hayes {Michael Shannon) wakes up and gets dressed, revealing that he has the scars of a shotgun blast on his back. He meets his younger brothers, Boy (Douglas Ligon) and Kid (Barlow Jacobs), who live in a tent and a van respectively, saying that his wife Annie has left him and invites them to live in his house. Son and Kid earn meager livings at a fish farm, where workers take bets on how Son received his scars. Meanwhile, Boy is an unsuccessful basketball coach at the local middle school. One night, while Son researches his ill-conceived gambling system, the boys' mother arrives to announce that their estranged father has died.
The brothers crash the funeral, where their father's second family is mourning. Son delivers a scathing commentary on their father, nearly starting a brawl with his half-brothers. The eldest half-brother, Stephen (Lynnsee Provence), vows revenge and starts a chain of violent confrontations. Meanwhile, Annie returns and tries to salvage her relationship with Son, and Kid plans on marrying his girlfriend should he get an expected raise. After the half-brothers kill Boy's dog, Kid attacks and kills Stephen, but is killed in return.
The confrontations between the remaining brothers escalate, with Son on one side and John Hayes on the other side unwilling to let the matter rest. Son and Boy invade the half-brothers' farm and attack a lone boy, but are interrupted and hospitalized by the remaining family. Annie and Kid's girlfriend are left grieving and bewildered by the feud. Boy purchases a shotgun and holds a half-brother at gunpoint, but hesitates after seeing the man's sons, and leaves. Son awakens from his coma, and Boy expresses worry that Son will kill himself trying to protect him from their half-brothers. He recalls how Son received his scars by shielding him and Kid from their father's shotgun blast.
The second family fortifies themselves in their farm, bracing for a shootout. Boy arrives at thet farm unarmed and states that he is done fighting, offering a truce. The less combative half-brothers force John to accept the truce, but worry that Son will not hold true to the agreement. Boy returns to Son, who recuperates from his injuries, and the two brothers enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the porch.
