Firecracker (2005)

A tale of murder in small-town Kansas. When Jimmy is lured away from his abusive family by a traveling sideshow carnival, he encounters Sandra, one of the main attractions. The happiness ... See full summary »

Director:

Steve Balderson

Writers:

Steve Balderson, Clark Balderson (translation)

Stars:

Karen Black, Mike Patton, Susan Traylor

5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Karen Black	...	Sandra / Eleanor
Mike Patton	...	Frank / David
Susan Traylor	...	Ed
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Jessica
Jak Kendall	...	Jimmy
Brooke Balderson	...	Pearl
Paul Sizemore	...	Officer Harry
Jane Wiedlin	...	Ursula
George McArthur	...	The Bald Man (as George the Giant)
Cathy Berry	...	Maxine, The Lobster Girl
Pleasant Gehman	...	Estelle
Selene Luna	...	Harriet
Susie Legault	...	Buffalola (as Susie Cravens Legault)
Jeff Montague	...	The Announcer
Sean R. Shuford	...	The Other Man (as Sean Shuford)

Storyline

A tale of murder in small-town Kansas. When Jimmy is lured away from his abusive family by a traveling sideshow carnival, he encounters Sandra, one of the main attractions. The happiness they find together causes them to confront the darkness in their lives.

---

Plot Keywords:

carnival | small town | kansas | sideshow | murder | 

---

Taglines:

People say nothing ever happens in Kansas

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official page

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Steve Balderson's Firecracker

Filming Locations:

Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dikenga Films, Dymax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Edward Furlong and Paul Sizemore were attached to the project in the role of "Jimmy" before Jak Kendall won it.

User Reviews

Multilayered masterpiece

One of my new all-time favorite movies, though if had to choose only one film to bring on a desert island, I'd probably go for Moulin Rouge. The main appeal of Firecracker (and its main weakness, according to its detractors) is that the film can be viewed from many different points of view. As an almost traditional classic tragedy; as a straight detective story; as a character study of an imprisoned boy (though everyone in the cast is trapped by something); as a carefully paced thriller; or, as a surreal dream. All of those genres fit here. And they fit perfectly.

People have criticized Balderson's choice of firing Dennis Hopper in favor of Mike Patton as the lead, but I couldn't imagine anyone else playing the part(s): he's a genius, where he had the courage to play a self-destructive, negative character, with bitter realism.

Full of great, innovative ideas that I think will be copied over and over for years to come.

Karen Black and Mike Patton deserve Oscar nominations!