Silver Bullets
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJoe Swanberg
Written byJoe Swanberg
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJoe Swanberg
Edited byJoe Swanberg
Music byOrange Mighty Trio
Production
company
Swanberry Productions
Distributed byFactory 25
Release dates
  • February 12, 2011 (2011-02-12) (Berlin Film Festival)
  • October 28, 2011 (2011-10-28) (United States)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States

Silver Bullets is a 2011 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Joe Swanberg. The film stars Kate Lyn Sheil, Ti West, Swanberg and Amy Seimetz. It is one of six films released by Swanberg in 2011. The film had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 12, 2011,[1] and was then released in a limited release on October 28, 2011, by Factory25.[2]

Plot

Actress Claire (Sheil) has been cast in the lead role, as a werewolf, in the upcoming movie Silver Bullets by indie horror filmmaker Ben (West). Her boyfriend Ethan (Swanberg) is also a filmmaker, though aimless and self-doubting in contrast to Ben's confidence. Ethan decides to cast Claire's best friend Charlie (Seimetz) as his character's girlfriend in his next movie, and the two film some love scenes together, which Claire is unhappy about. Claire is further thrown into turmoil after Ben tries to kiss her.

Cast

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 12, 2011.[3] and screened at SXSW on March 13, 2011.[4] The film was released in a limited release by Factory25 on October 28, 2011.[5]

Reception

Richard Brody of The New Yorker named it the 9th best film of 2011 [6] Variety stated that the film "probably contains Swanberg's clearest exposition of his philosophy, yet its sad aimlessness, from the mouth of an unhappy director (played by the helmer), elicits only a begrudging pity."[7] A review in The A.V. Club stated that "Silver Bullets’ introspection feels earned", but that the film "splinters into an ending that isn’t entirely satisfying, though a prologue and epilogue suggest these issues of control and the line between pretense and reality continue throughout one’s creative life" and gave a "B+" grade.[8] A New York Times reviewer concluded that the film "neither pleases the eye nor stimulates the mind. At one point Mr. Swanberg’s character announces that he couldn’t care less about getting good reviews. Whew, I feel so much better."[9]

References

  1. ^ Brody, Richard (February 11, 2011). "Joe Swanberg In Berlin". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  2. ^ "Factory 25 - Silver Bullets". Factory 25. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  3. ^ Brody, Richard (February 11, 2011). "Joe Swanberg In Berlin". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  4. ^ Jonathan Pacheco (March 15, 2011). "SXSW 2011: Silver Bullets". SlantMagazine. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "Factory 25 - Silver Bullets". Factory 25. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  6. ^ The 26 Best Films of 2011
  7. ^ Weissberg, Jay (February 13, 2011). "Silver Bullets". Variety. Berlin.
  8. ^ Willmore, Alison (October 27, 2011). "Silver Bullets review". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
  9. ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (October 27, 2011). "Independent Filmmaker Fights That Old Ennui". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-09-03.

External links

Works by Joe Swanberg
Categories