Eric LaRue (2025)

April 4, 2025 (US) • Drama • 119m

Overview

Janice is struggling; she moves through life as if in a haze, unable to let go of her anger and frustration. While her husband has found refuge at a new church, Janice finds it hard to seek solace in her faith despite her pastor’s pleas to heal her wounds by meeting with the mothers of her son’s victims.

Director

Michael Shannon

Writer

Brett Neveu

Top Billed

Judy Greer

Keywords

forgiveness trauma based on play or musical healing process school shooting mass shooting

Where to watch

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Top Billed Cast

Judy Greer

Janice LaRue

Alexander Skarsgård

Ron LaRue

Alison Pill

Lisa Graff

Tracy Letts

Bill Verne

Paul Sparks

Steve Calhan

Annie Parisse

Stephanie Grazer

Kate Arrington

Jill Yardling

Nation Sage Henrikson

Eric LaRue

Jacob Alexander

Brad Gilbert

Jennifer Engstrom

Laura Gates

Mierka Girten

Sheila Guffy

Lawrence Grimm

Jack McCoy

David Pasquesi

Documentary Narrator

Sierra Foley

Rachel Fuller

Marylouise Burke

Wilma Kentworthy

Shea Pritchard

Teen #1

Jalen Michael Black

Teen #2

Jaylee Kennedy

Teen #3

Ridge Lewis

Young Victim

Jack Davis

Young Victim

Ryan Sharp

Young Victim

Chevy Lamont Cofield

Correctional Officer (uncredited)

Kareem L. Alston

Officer J. Rose (uncredited)

Ruth Rhett Bennett

Parishioner (uncredited)

Andrew Donovan

Lisa's Husband (uncredited)

Art Newkirk

Correction Officer (uncredited)

Logan Newkirk

Young Eric (uncredited)

Bobbie Peterson

Prison Visitor (uncredited)

William G. Tomek

Corrections Officer (uncredited)

Crew

Michael Shannon

Director

Brett Neveu

Writer

Sarah Green

Producer

Karl Hartman

Producer

Jina Panebianco

Producer

Jeff Nichols

Executive Producer

R. Wesley Sierk

Executive Producer

Byron Wetzel

Executive Producer

Meghan Schuman

Executive Producer

John D. Straley

Executive Producer

Declan Baldwin

Executive Producer

Chad Keith

Production Design

Catherine Bayley

Set Decoration

Alexis Forte

Costume Design

Taylor Morgan

Unit Production Manager

Dayna Schutz

First Assistant Director

Kathryn J. Hatam

Second Second Assistant Director

Amy Graham

Property Master

Ken Stewart

Set Dresser

Cecilia Keirstead

Boom Operator

Dylan Ferri

Utility Sound

Elanor Rimassa

Sound Mixer

Dana Hawley

Still Photographer

Darrell Burke

Second Assistant "A" Camera

James Michael Douglas

Lighting Technician

Blake M. Farmer

Chief Lighting Technician

Mary Margaret Porter

Camera Operator

Anthony Scopino

Second Assistant Camera

Sarah Hoke

Costume Supervisor

Jean-Paul Chreky

Script Supervisor

Elizabeth A. Dennis

Production Coordinator

Ben Shafer

Co-Producer

Mike Selemon

Editor

Ashleigh Chavis

Makeup Department Head

David Isyomin

Visual Effects Supervisor

Dachi Abesalashvili

Foley Editor

Joni Amiranashvili

Foley Mixer

Dennis Dembeck

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Tornike Dzidzikashvili

Foley Artist

Beso Kacharava

Foley Supervisor

Luka Kasrelishvili

Foley Editor

Mark McGillivray

Title Designer

Jonathan Mastro

Original Music Composer

Andrew Wheeler

Director of Photography

Brayden Josh Malinga

Best Boy Grip

Avy Kaufman

Casting

Matt Osborne

Colorist

Reviews

Brent Marchant

⭐ 8/10

April 9, 2025

When a terrible domestic tragedy strikes a seemingly “normal” family, how do its members pick up the pieces and carry on? How are they to resolve their grief while dealing with the bitter backlash of others, some of whom have no connection to the incident in question? And is there responsibility or blame to be leveled against one or more of the individuals at the center of this calamity? Those are among the questions raised in this intense directorial debut from actor Michael Shannon, the story of a household torn apart when troubled teenage son Eric (Nation Sage Henrikson) shoots and kills three classmates at school one day in what appears to be a cold, unanticipated, matter-of-fact fashion. The incident leaves his parents, Janice (Judy Greer) and Ron (Alexander Skarsgård), to sort out matters and attempt to carry on with their lives. That’s easier said than done, however, given their respective responses to the event, reactions that affect their relationship, their work lives and their participation in proposed interventions by their pastors, Janice’s genial but largely inept Presbyterian minister (Paul Sparks) and Ron’s dubious fundamentalist preacher (Tracy Letts). While Janice struggles to find clarity in a sea of confusion, Ron believes everything can be made better by simply handing off his troubles to Jesus in what amounts to little more than an act of denial and an abrogation of his willingness to address what happened, an attitude politely but intrusively encouraged by his fellow parishioner and co-worker, Lisa (Allison Pill), whose interest in Ron’s “well-being” apparently extends beyond his spiritual healing. Then there are the differing reactions (or lack thereof) of the victims’ mothers (Jennifer Engstrom, Annie Parisse, Kate Arrington), who exhibit a range of emotions and behaviors that complicate matters even further. And, in the meantime, Eric sits alone in prison, receiving visits from no one, including his own parents. The gripping presentation of this story has an edge-of-the-seat quality that one might not typically find in a story like this, especially since resolution of the issues presented here always seems out of reach. But therein lies the captivating nature of this story, as it keeps viewers continually guessing what will happen next, especially when it turns in unexpected directions. In doing so, the film once again raises questions about the reasons and means behind teen violence, observations not unlike those brought up previously in such offerings as “Mass” (2021) and “We Need to Talk About Kevin” (2011). And, because of that, this can indeed make for an uneasy watch for sensitive viewers. Nevertheless, those who can handle such a degree of intensity are bound to be thoroughly impressed with this picture, most notably its fine ensemble, particularly Greer, Skarsgård and Pill, who deliver performances that reveal acting chops not seen before. “Eric LaRue” is also one of the finest stage-to-screen adaptations I’ve ever seen, successfully sustaining its pacing and narrative flow, never coming across as the least bit stagey, a true credit to screenwriter Brett Neveu in adapting his own play. To a great extent, this is made possible by the script’s deft inclusion of comic relief, effectively incorporated just when it’s needed most and held back when the dramatics need to take over for maximum impact. This 2023 production has admittedly been long time in coming to the big screen, but the wait was definitely worth it. Shannon has made an impressive debut with this offering, and I look forward to whatever directorial projects he comes up with next.

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Eric LaRue (2025)

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Brent Marchant

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