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Jun 23, 2014 By Austin Trunick Web Exclusive

For now, the embattled addict is a role we haven’t tired of seeing Aaron Paul play over and again. Between Breaking Bad and Smashed, we’ve seen his character’s afflictions take their toll on his colleagues and romantic partners. In Hellion, the ones who suffer most for his character’s weakness of will are his children.

Hollis Wilson is the single father of two boys: 13-year-old Jacob (Josh Wiggins) and 10-year-old Wes. Their mother was killed in an unspecified accident, causing her husband’s already-crippling alcoholism to spin out of control. Hellion picks up well after the family’s loss, and the grieving Hollis has long since lost his paternal grip on his two boys. Jacob—a repeat vandal and frequent playground scuffler—is one strike away from landing himself in a juvenile detention center. When Wes—for whom Jacob has become the primary male role model in his father’s absence—is taken away by Protective Services and placed in the care of his aunt (Juliette Lewis), Jacob sees drastic action as his only hope of getting his little brother back.

Hellion paints a plaintive portrait of a family trapped in the bottom echelon of America’s middle class. The Southeast Texas setting could be anywhere in rural America; the small town social politics are suffocating and claustrophobic. Their plight is believable, and strong cast performances across-the-board make their story all the more heartbreaking. The boys (Josh Wiggins in particular) are real finds, and make the scenes involving only the children—running after-hours, causing adolescent mayhem—so absorbing to watch. And to filmmaker Kat Candler’s further credit, neither Paul’s damaged-yet-loving father nor Lewis’ usurping aunt are painted as the villain; you’re not meant to pick sides with this film. You can only root for the kids, and cross your fingers that there’s still hope left for them.

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Author rating: 7.5/10