It's not the showdown at the OK Corral or the Hatfields vs. McCoys. This time the setting is rural Arkansas but the theme remains the same. Two feuding families are heading towards the inevitable final act. There can be no other way to settle the dispute. The intertwined histories of these two groups and the burning need for no one to ever yield a square inch pre-ordains their collective fates. And even though we know it is coming, it is still remarkably unpredictable and well presented. "Shotgun Stories" simmers at a low boil, periodically letting off steam but it is clear that eventually the explosion must occur. There can be no other solution.
Combatants on both sides share the name of Hayes because all come from the same father. That the father abandoned one group of sons and then went on to father another group of sons is one thing. That he was an alcoholic loser with his first sons and a cleaned up successful, religious pillar of the community with his second family exacerbates the situation. The first set of brothers hates their father. The second set adores him. You get the picture.
Everything is finally set in motion when dad dies. Son Hayes (Michael Shannon), Boy Hayes (Douglas Ligon) and Kid Hayes (Barlow Jacobs) crash the funeral and Son Hayes asks to say a few words. Dad's second wife agrees, to the dismay of her children. After a very short speech, Son spits on the casket and of course a fight breaks out. Everyone is separated without much harm but there is no turning back from this grand insult.
Son is the leader of his brothers. He is the "successful" one. Translated, that means he is married and doesn't sleep outside. Kid and Boy live in a tent and a van, respectively. Son only knows one gear. He is in a constant state of controlled rage. Kid and Boy are lost children who don't seem to clearly grasp how lost they are. The other team is headed by Stephen and Cleaman Hayes but they are here primarily as foils. Michael Shannon steals the entire show. His baleful stares cut right through you and his look conjures up thoughts of a slightly demented David Letterman. When everything finally hits the fan, it is the actions of Son that will determine the final outcome.
"Shotgun Stories" is a great study of three small town brothers who have had it tough. Most of the acting is short on words and a good deal of the time, totally non-verbal. One close-up of Son is worth a lot more than most actors can put forth in an entire film. You will genuinely feel for these three brothers. It may not be strictly compassion or love but their characters make you feel what it is like to be them. What more can you ask for?
