The immensely gifted Michael Shannon makes his directorial debut in Eric LaRue, which brings Brett Neveu’s suspenseful 2002 play to the big screen. And Judy Greer’s genuinely remarkable performance lies at the core of this intense tale.
Ignore the usual story of a school shooting. By courageously changing the subject, Eric LaRue immerses us in the broken world of the shooter’s family. Greer plays Janice, a mother dealing with unspeakable sorrow and a deep sense of confusion following her teenage son’s horrifying act of violence.
Janice finds herself adrift in a sea of conflicting emotions, resentment fighting with a desperate desire to understand the incomprehensible, while her husband (played by Alexander Skarsgård) finds comfort in a new church community. When her pastor proposes a meeting with the mothers of her son’s victims, her internal conflict gets worse. Will the already open wounds get worse, or could this be a step in the right direction?
Eric LaRue is more than just a movie; it’s a profound examination of guilt, the brittle ties of community, and the frequently elusive path to forgiveness, all of which are surrounded by an amazing supporting cast that includes Paul Sparks, Alison Pill, Tracy Letts, and Annie Parisse.
Shannon directs with a sensitive and steady hand, drawing us intimately into the raw and vulnerable lives left shattered in the aftermath of violence.
Eric LaRue – Watch the trailer
Directed by Michael Shannon
Starring: Judy Greer, Paul Sparks, Alison Pill, Tracy Letts, Annie Parisse, and Alexander Skarsgård.
Where to watch Eric LaRue (2025)
