Child of God (2013)

A dispossessed, violent man's disastrous attempt to exist outside the social order.

Director:

James Franco

Writers:

James Franco (screenplay), Vince Jolivette (screenplay)

Stars:

Scott Haze, Tim Blake Nelson, Jim Parrack

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scott Haze	...	Lester Ballard
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Sheriff Fate
Jim Parrack	...	Deputy Cotton
Steve Hunter	...	Auctioneer
Brian Lally	...	Greer
Elena McGhee	...	Lady In White
Nina Ljeti	...	First Victim
Nathan Mohebbi	...	Boyfriend ofFirst Victim
Jeremy Ambler	...	Boy at the Cabin #1
Ethan Cline	...	Boy at the Cabin
Kristen Adams	...	Ms. Walker
Fallon Goodson	...	Girly
Trevor Pillinger	...	Boyfriend of Girly
Ciera Danielle	...	Salesgirl (as Cierra Parrack)
Boyd Smith	...	Mr. Fox

Storyline

Set in mountainous Sevier County, Tennessee, "Child of God" is based on the third novel by acclaimed writer Cormac McCarthy, first published in 1973. It tells the strange story of Lester Ballard, a dispossessed, violent man whom the narrator describes as "a child of God much like yourself perhaps." Ballard's life is a disastrous attempt to exist outside the social order in the 1960s. Successively deprived of parents and homes and with few other ties, Ballard descends literally and figuratively to the level of a cave dweller as he falls deeper into crime and degradation.

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Plot Keywords:

violence | reference to god | 1960s | tennessee | german | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing aberrant sexual content, nudity, language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 2014 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Child of God - Filho de Deus

Filming Locations:

Hillsboro, West Virginia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$27,630, 3 August 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$37,949, 8 August 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

RabbitBandini Productions, Made In Film-Land

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scott Haze moved to Sevierville, TN, to prepare for the role of Lester Ballard. He lived in an isolated cabin in the woods, lost 50 pounds and was reportedly sleeping in caves some nights.

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Goofs

When Lester is about to perform the act of necrophilia and he places the rifle against the Pontiac, he initially places it barrel down but after he finishes his deed and they show the outside of the car again, it is barrel up before it falls down to the ground.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Lester Ballard: Get off my fuckin property!

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: James Franco/Chadwick Boseman/Jenny Lewis (2014)

User Reviews

Not a film to like

This film is about a woodsman who is violent and lonesome. He is a disturbed individuals disowned and disliked by the village.

The main character is a man who is wildly different from the other villagers. He cannot relate to other people, and lives in a world of his own. Despite him being a child of God, his behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent. He's not a character to like, and not just because of his horrid behavior but also of his appearance. I guess "Child of God" is a good film because it evokes a reaction in the mind of viewers, and provoke thoughts on how a person can descend to such lowly depths. It's not a film to like, but to admire for its artistic achievements.