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 & 3 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
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

Lester seems to have and endless supply of bullets.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

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

User Reviews

Humanizing a demonized man!

I had no idea what to expect with Child of God. I haven't read the book but I have heard its quite disturbing. I had my skepticism because it could have easily been a disturbing movie just for the sake of being disturbing, but I had hope that James Franco would deliver something memorable, and he has!

Lester Ballard is a despicable man. Shouting and abusing anyone in his sights. Filthy, foul mouthed, psychotic, this is a man you wouldn't want to have a conversation with, and I was expecting just to have nothing but repulsive feelings when watching him on screen! But what makes the film work, is that Franco, although not condoning this man's behaviour, allows some humanity inside a person that everyone deemed as a lost cause. There was a strange beauty in this film that hid under all the ugliness.

The acting from Scott Haze is nothing short of amazing. Psychotic one second, to a crying mess the next. You have a whirlwind of emotions when dealing with this very dramatic character.

Be warned, the themes in this film are very extreme and will upset a lot of people, but I thought it had a purpose.

If you don't mind watching films that aren't afraid to show you the ugly side of life together with a strange sense of beauty, then Child of God comes recommended!