Shotgun Stories
International Film Circuit | Release Date: March 26, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
76
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews
Positive:
14
Mixed:
1
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Seattle Post-IntelligencerBill White
An allegory of our times, Shotgun Stories is a tragedy of biblical scale and an intimate family drama. Unlike the more lauded films of last year, which glorified a national preoccupation with bloody deeds, Shotgun Stories is a passionate cry to end the violence and a reminder that we, as free individuals, have the power to determine our own destinies. Read full review
100
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Here is a tense and sorrowful film where common sense struggles with blood lust. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesMichael Ordona
An understated gem. Writer-director Jeff Nichols, making his feature debut, has created a richly textured world. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubNoel Murray
Well-plotted, with a strong lead performance by Michael Shannon, and a fair amount of authentic regional flavor. It isn't really meant to be a treatise on Southern life. At heart, it's a country-fried genre film, minus the peppery white gravy. Read full review
80
The New York TimesMatt Zoller Seitz
The film is a here-and-now American potboiler and a stripped-down parable that can be appreciated by any culture. Read full review
75
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
The cast deliver consistently fine, subtle performances, underscored by Ben Nichols' mournfully melodic guitar score. Read full review
75
PremiereGlenn Kenny
It's rare that a picture that deals with as much tragedy as this one also manages to convey as much warmth to its characters. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleWalter Addiego
An austere rural landscape, festering hatred, class tensions, terse dialogue - these are common currency in indie movies these days. Shotgun Stories uses them all, but manages to stand out from the crowd. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMaureen M. Hart
Director Jeff Nichols lets the action unfold slowly following an impromptu insult, but the escalation of hatred and pain feels natural. Read full review
70
VarietyEddie Cockrell
Thesping is pitch-perfect across the board. Read full review
70
New York Magazine (Vulture)David Edelstein
The movie makes you empathize with the rage that drives these young men to violence--but it also makes you see how manly action wipes out their individuality, their uniqueness, and turns them into archetypal meatheads. Read full review
70
L.A. WeeklyJim Ridley
In this tense, lyrical and bone-spare slice-of-death drama by writer-director Jeff Nichols, Shannon gets a role tailored to his lanky Middle American boyishness and the demons peering from behind it. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJoshua Katzman
At the center of the film is a keenly understated performance by Michael Shannon (Bug, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) as the eldest of the cast-off sons. Read full review
63
New York PostLou Lumenick
Features a riveting performance by Michael Shannon as oldest son Son. He's definitely an actor to watch. Read full review
60
EmpireRoss Bennett
An interesting first effort from Nichols - making him a director to look out for in the future. Read full review
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