Some Folks Call it a Sling Blade
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Some Folks Call it a Sling Blade is a short film directed by George Hickenlooper and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Molly Ringwald, and J.T. Walsh. It was adapted into the film Sling Blade, also starring Thornton.
Thornton plays a simple-minded man, Karl Childers, who has been in prison for murder for the past 25 years. On the day of his release, he is interviewed by a reporter, Theresa Tatum (Ringwald), who is writing her article with the intent of examining whether criminals judged to be insane should be released from prison. Before the interview, Tatum is of the opinion that criminals like Childers should never be released. During the interview, however, Tatum must question her previous beliefs in this matter. In Sling Blade, which extends this story, Childers does in fact kill again, but in this film, there is no reason to believe Childers will kill again after being released.
The title of the film comes from Childers' description of the murders. He admits to committing murder with a "kaiser blade, some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a kaiser blade".