HELLION Opens In NY June 13; LA June 20th – Stars Aaron Paul, Josh Wiggins And Juliette Lewis

Writer/director Kat Candler’s HELLION paints the powerful portrait of a family on the brink of dissolution set against the haunting backdrop of the refineries of Southeast Texas.

Starring Aaron Paul, Josh Wiggins and Juliette Lewis, Sundance Selects will release HELLION in New York (and on VOD platforms) on June 13th and Los Angeles on June 20th.

Obsessed with heavy metal, dirt bike racing and partaking in the occasional act of vandalism with his band of delinquents, the behavior of 13-year-old Jacob Wilson (Josh Wiggins in his feature film debut) has begun to raise concerns around town, especially when it starts to involve his younger brother Wes (newcomer Deke Garner). While the boys’ father Hollis (two-time Emmy Award-winner Aaron Paul) loves his sons, he is still reeling from the loss of their mother, spending more time drowning his sorrows at the local bar and working on his damaged beach house than being an active parent.

When the local authorities catch wind of the increasingly volatile situation, Wes is taken into custody by his Aunt Pam (Academy Award nominee Juliette Lewis), leaving Jacob and Hollis to fend for themselves. In Wes’ absence, Jacob becomes increasingly obsessed with two things: winning a local motocross championship and getting his brother back.

With a scorching central performance by Wiggins and heart-wrenchingly raw turns by Paul and Lewis, HELLION is impossible to shake. Executive Produced by Jeff Nichols (MUD) and Sarah Green (THE TREE OF LIFE).

Josh Wiggins (Jacob Wilson) in Kat Candler’s HELLION. Courtesy of Lauren Logan. Copyright Across Town Productions. An IFC Films release.

Kat Candler’s short films HELLION and BLACK METAL both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, her previous films have screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, SXSW, Slamdance and on PBS.

Of her film, Candler says, “HELLION plays on the idea of responsibility and manhood. The youth of America are getting angrier and angrier having to grow up quicker and harder-edged. This is the story of a father and son learning to reconcile their poor choices and bad behavior in order to take responsibility for their own lives and for each other.”

She continues, “I’ve always been drawn to stories of youth. I’m fascinated by good kids doing bad things. I’ve read Lord of the Flies countless times and the 1963 movie is one of my all time favorites. I’ve worked with at risk-kids at alternative schools and taught film production to all grades levels. I want to give voice to not only this struggling single father, but to the kids that wander the small town streets in search of adventure, respect and understanding. And with HELLION I’m excited to bring all of these characters I fell in love with two years ago to the screen– their heartbreaking mistakes, their poor choices and their good hearts.”

Aaron Paul (Hollis Wilson) in Kat Candler’s HELLION. Courtesy of Brett Pawlak. Copyright Across Town Productions. An IFC Films release.