Esteemed Academy Award nominated actor Michael Shannon makes his directorial debut with the new film “Eric Larue”. This fascinating and even complicated feature had its world premiere at Tribeca in June and just recently screened in Little Rock at Filmland 2023, the annual curated “celebration of cinema” hosted by the Arkansas Cinema Society.

Shannon has chosen some heavy subject matter for his debut. Based on Brett Neveu’s 2002 play of the same name, “Eric LaRue” deals with the sensitive topic of school shootings. It takes a compelling approach, putting its entire focus on the aftermath. More specifically, the movie looks at how a local community deals with such horror. And much of it is examined through the eyes of the young killer’s mother who’s played by the brilliant and too often underappreciated Judy Greer.

But as the movie progresses it’s almost as if the school shooting takes a backseat to the film’s more curious interest – religion, particularly American evangelicalism, or at least the movie’s perception of it. The story (adapted for the screen by Neveu) spends much of its time exploring various facets of modern day religiosity. It’s far from the most balanced representation and it’s clear that the filmmakers have their opinions. What’s surprising is how much time they commit to expressing them.

Just as unexpected is the movie’s tone. You would never anticipate it, but “Eric LaRue” is full of humor. So much that you could almost (and I stress ‘almost’) consider it a black comedy. To its credit, the film delivers some pretty big laughs often with the subtlest of touches. Still the challenge of tone management is something the movie battles throughout.

It should be emphasized that the film is never flippant or insensitive towards school shootings, gun violence, or the various personal traumas that stem from them. In fact the film’s best moments see Shannon dialing back the humor and taking more introspective and incisive looks at the emotional toll taken on those trying to understand and cope. Instead the humor is almost always reserved for the religious – something that grows more and more obvious as the story progresses.

Greer gives the movie its emotional center in playing Janice LaRue. Months earlier Janice’s 17-year-old son Eric (Nation Sage Henrikson) walked into his high school and shot and killed three of his classmates. Understandably devastated, Janice now tries to piece her life back together and move forward. But navigating through her pain proves to be difficult. As does navigating through her local community, where reactions to her range from uncomfortable to downright cruel.

We learn it has been three months since Eric was sent to jail and Janice has yet to pay him a visit. This has concerned her Presbyterian pastor Steve (Paul Sparks) who is pushing her to go see her son. He’s also persistent in trying to convince Janice to meet with the mothers of the murdered students. He’s certain that such a meeting is crucial to the healing process.

Janice’s husband Ron (a nearly unrecognizable Alexander Skarsgård) isn’t much help. He too is grieving but has found some semblance of comfort at the more charismatic Redeemer Church across town. Encouraged by his co-worker and Redeemer parishioner Lisa (Alison Pill), Ron begins attending Bible studies and worship services led by the church’s pastor Bill Verne (Tracy Letts).

And that sets the table for the majority of the story which follows Janice as she’s pulled, prodded, and pressured into doing what other people think is best for her. That alone makes for an evocative premise. But staying emotionally attached can be tough, especially with the movie’s preoccupation with religion and its frequent use of humor to make some of its points.

Overall “Eric LaRue” is a challenging film that I’m convinced can’t be fully grasped in just one viewing. And despite some curious choices, it’s a testament to Shannon’s convictions. Rather than picking something safe for his first venture behind the camera, he has made something important to him. And his vehemence can be sensed all throughout it.

Unfortunately “Eric LaRue” has yet to be picked up for distribution which isn’t entirely surprising. Perhaps studios are hesitant to take on such a heavy subject (although the acclaim of 2021’s “Mass” might suggest otherwise). Or maybe it’s the humor that makes them uneasy. Whatever the reason, the movie deserves an audience. And hopefully it will get its chance to earn one soon.

VERDICT – 3 STARS