A Single Shot

Directed by David M. Rosenthal, A Single Shot details the violent fallout that ensues after Sam Rockwell’s John Moon accidentally kills a young woman during a routine hunt. It’s a familiar yet thoroughly promising setup that’s squandered to an often astonishing degree by Rosenthal, as the filmmaker, armed with Matthew F. Jones’ screenplay, delivers an exhaustingly tedious endeavor that rarely, if ever, becomes as electrifying (or entertaining) as its premise might’ve indicated – with the picture’s arms-length atmosphere compounded by a punishingly deliberate pace, Eduard Grau’s grimy, dimly-lit cinematography, and a general lack of compelling characters. The latter is particularly surprising given the presence of Rockwell within the film’s central role, and there’s little doubt that the actor’s ongoing efforts to transform John into a sympathetic (or even interesting) figure fall hopelessly flat – with Rockwell’s inert efforts matched by a stacked (yet wasted) supporting cast that includes Ted Levine, Kelly Reilly, and William H. Macy. (Jason Isaacs’ moustache-twirling turn as the picture’s less-than-subtle villain remains a rare highlight within the proceedings, at least.) And while the movie’s climax admittedly does possess some otherwise-absent tension, A Single Shot has, by that point, cemented its place as a padded-out misfire that feels like it should be so much better.

** out of ****