Hellion

Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul proves that he can make the transition to big screen star here, playing Hollis, a grieving Texas widower trying to raise two young sons, in this compelling independent film by Kat Candler. But Paul still takes a backseat to newcomer Josh Wiggins, who brings remarkable depth to the role of Jacob, Hollis's 13-year-old son, a destructive child traumatized by the loss of his mother. Hollis can't handle the boy, taking refuge in the bottle until CPS intervenes to place Jacob's younger brother in the custody of Hollis's sister-in-law (Juliette Lewis), a move that only adds to Jacob's woe, leading him to hatch a dangerous scheme to reunite his family. Predictably, the film takes a tragic turn that will threaten Jacob's future but also finally wakes Hollis up to his duties as a dad. While Hellion has something of an “Afterschool Special” vibe, it succeeds on the whole, partially due to Candler's unfussy direction, but mostly thanks to the fine performances, especially from Wiggins, who powerfully yet subtly conveys the inarticulate rage of a teen fighting against a world he believes has left him few options. A strong coming-of-age tale, this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include the 2012 same-titled original short film by director Kat Candler (6 min.), a behind-the-scenes featurette (4 min.), a Sundance premiere segment (4 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a solid debut from Candler.] (F. Swietek)