Billy Bob Thorton’s best performance. He wrote it and directed it. Sensational.

The irony of asking the person you’re about to kill what number to dial. Ultimate power move

“That boy… Frank - he lives inside of his own heart. That’s a awful big place to live in.” So damn profound.

I got to meet Billy Bob Thornton when I was doing a concert for a little 12 year old boy, who was a burn victim. This was a few years after he had made Sling Blade. He was walking around with another guy at the other nearby events and he asked me what the benefit was for, and at that time, I actually didn't recognize him, because he was wearing a baseball cap and he was with another guy. I suddenly recognized him, shook his hand and told him how much I admired his role in Sling Blade, as well as a couple of other movies. I told him the concert was for this little boy, who was burned over 90% of his body, along with his father at approximately 50% in a traggic accident. We had already done several concerts and this was the last one that I had scheduled. He said he would be back in about thirty minutes with a check, which he did. I won't disclose the amount of money, but it was a sizeable amount. I always appreciated that gesture. I don't particularly agree with him on some things, but there are a lot of Hollywood types that wouldn't lift a finger to help anyone, unless they got some notoriety out of it.

Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam and John Ritter were outstanding in this film.

It is a rare occasion to get to see an actor completely become someone else. A remarkable performance and an amazing movie.

As someone born and raised in The South, this movie is a masterpiece.

I'm from Pennsylvania and lived down South for many years. I remember watching this with a group of friends at one of our regular "Movie Night" gatherings and I noted that the movie struck a chord with Southerners in particular. I was told "Each and every one of us here has a Frank, a Karl, a Vaughan or a Doyle somewhere in their life."

Dwight Yoakam was fantastic as the bad guy in this movie. But, then the whole cast in this movie where just outstanding.

"He lives inside his own heart, that's an awful big place to live in." Probably the most underrated and pure line in cinema history. What a gem of a movie.

They made this movie in 24 days. That is mind blowing. An amazing story, a handful of amazing actors, zero special effects and 1 month and you have a classic.

The way Carl looks at Vaughn as he's asking him to be a father to the boy is so piercing and deep, you can tell this is very serious business for Carl and he is exacting an oath from Vaughn...a truly fantastic movie.

UPDATE: Sadly "that boy" never gets over losing his big buddy Karl and grows up to be a rather rebellious teen. After he and his mother are forced to move several times due to his shenanigans, he gets in serious trouble with the law. Last anyone heard of him he was drifting cars in Tokyo.

That scene where he's watching the house gives me chills. Very eerie. He did what he felt he had to do to save Franklin and his mom. This movie doesn't get nearly enough recognition.

I love how this is pretty much the only scene in the movie where Carl makes eye contact. It goes to show that he wasn't as out of touch as everyone perceived him to be.

To anyone who's never seen this movie. It's truly a piece of art.

“That boy Frank. He lives inside his own heart. That’s an awful an big place to live in.” My man Carl is poetic. I just love the way he says that.

I love the small detail of how Karl winced when he looked down and saw what he had done to Doyle. He didn’t want to do it, and he’s not a psychopath. He just wanted to take care of Frank and his mom, so he did it the only way he knew how

The most powerful part of this scene is how he casually eats a biscuit with mustard as he waits for the authorities to show up… no panic or anxiety, just resolute peace after doing what he believed had to be done. I get a chill up my spine every time I watch it.🥶

Thornton won an Oscar for best screenplay. He should have also won an Oscar for best actor.

Billy Bob was just excellent in this role.

Billy Bob Thornton should have gotten an Oscar for this role. Outstanding performance

He was a Guardian angel, constant prayers to all the children in the real world who do not have someone looking out for their best interests

Carl had an intensity of presence that was quite palpable. This was very evident when he looked directly at people. You can almost see Vaughn wither in his gaze. Despite his limited mental capacity, Carl saw the world quite clearly and cleanly. It actually made life very simple for him and he had accepted things as they were. There was no victimhood in his relationship with circumstance. Thornton did an amazing job in his portrayal of this character.

The split second when Doyle realized Carl wasn't bullshitting about killing him...PRICELESS.

Idk y but I love how carl is just straight up when he says "I aim to kill u with it" he may be a murderer but at least he's an honest one

I was practially in tears when he was talking to Vaughn. And this is by FAR my favorite idea, on how to deal with Doyle. The most grotesque scene to me was when Karl tried to talk to his father. Talk about evil, Robert Duvall nails it. I can only watch the whole movie once every few years, but it is epic every time.

Karl lived inside his heart when he was young. The world was cruel to him. He meets Frank and his family and realizes that if he doesn't do something, Frank will end up in a situation that puts him away. Karl saves Frank from a life of despair

Ritter did a fine job here. Throughout his career he was jumping into the spotlight. It's nice to see him where he's laid back. RIP Jack Tripper

Carl's conversation with Vaughan was, perhaps, the most beautiful thing in all scripts.

The most impressive acting I've ever seen. Billy Bob Thorton was outstanding 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

What an emotionally crushing performance. A masterpiece unparalleled. The real life friendship between Thornton and Ritter is beautiful.

In the director's cut, when Karl returns to the house with the lawnmower blade, he starts to have second thoughts and actually walks away thinking maybe he shouldn't kill Doyle. It's done in one unbroken shot where he walks off into the distance and gets almost all the way out of the frame before he realizes he has to save Frank and Frank's mother from Doyle's wrath, so he turns around and comes back. It really adds a lot more depth to Karl's character.

This has always been my second favorite scene in this movie. The first one is when five men were trying to figure out what was wrong with a lawn mower and Carl comes up, looks it over, and says "there ain't no gas in it!"

God Bless the soul of John Ritter. He was absolutely amazing.

Billy Bob was a different person in every role he performed -- surprisingly rare trait among famous actors

Dwight Yoakum gives an equally compelling performance as well. I dreaded every scene he is in and I just wanted to scream every time he shows up. That is the sign of some great acting. I couldn’t even listen to his music for months afterwards.

One of my favorite movies ever. Phenomenal acting, especially by Billy Bob. So original. No film before or after can capture the imagination like this. And the building intensity to this inevitable scene is spectacular.

They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Classic.

This younger generation don't know what it's like to get mustard out of a glass jar with a butter knife and it damn sure shows.

The way John Ritter delivers the words "i will"... just damn! One of the best actors to ever live imo!

Can you imagine how BIlly Bob Thorton felt to concieve of,write, produce,direct and act in this amazing movie filmed not far from where BBT grew up. Epic movie

That cinematography with the mirror in the background. Wow!

The intense music as Carl prepares for what he had to do, followed by the near silence as he confronts Doyle is pure genius.

Carl calling the police always gets me. Imagine being the dispatcher that gets this bomb. Beautiful movie.

Billy Bob's performance was sublime.... How he didn't get the Oscar astounds me... Only other time I've seen such powerful performances were several roles by Daniel Day Lewis.

Doyle's death rattle as Karl is dialing the phone and speaking to the police department is a magnificent touch.

When Vaughn breathlessly said “I will”, he knew that he would not see Carl again. He also knew that he was ready to take on the responsibility to raise Frank as his own son, immediately granting him the biggest emotional change of his life. Very powerful acting to properly grasp what was happening.

I miss movies that were half ass original and worth watching

One of the best performances I've seen. Worked with adults with special needs most of my career. He played the part to perfection. Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man" was great as well.

It’s incredible that an actor without my prosthetics on their face could look so dissimilar from themselves. Great job.

I worked as a paramedic in the Midwest. Every guy on our shift looovvved Slingblade. If time allowed, we watched Slingblade every night. 3-4 times a weekend. Yes, there were a lot of "Karl-isms". You couldn't stop for fuel after a call without "it ain't got no gas". But the main reason is because it was such a fantastic film. One of the best movies of all time.

When a man tells you "I aim to kill you with it" after asking how to reach the police. When he stands up you are not supposed to just sit there..

The realization that vahaun had once carl said "You take care of that boy" after telling him to go and get them, carl giving all his money to him. Vahaun KNEW what was about to happen. This has always been one of the two most powerful scenes to me. Aside from carl telling his father that he should have given his brother a chance at life. ALL INVOLVED NEEDED an OSCAR! Billy bob of course, john Ritter and Dwight ALL deserved awards.

This movie was so powerful, so heart-felt, and so well acted that it should have won Oscars all around.

Authentic. I'm born and raised in the "south". The characters are absolutely spot on. The accents, the setting, the script.......everything is spot on. Great job.

Billy Bob Thornton transformed into a totally different person for this role. Much more than just makeup. He became his role. I would never have guessed Billy Bob was carl. Acting perfection. Award winning performance for sure.

Still can't believe John Ritter's dead. He had so much more to give, just getting better and better

I think this is one of the most beautifully acted and emotional scenes in movie history. Karl's sentiments about Frank, Vaughn, and the way Vaughn responds just pauses chokes me up every time. "I will."

I was so proud of Karl what a great MOVIE

"I aim to kill you with it." Classic.

My mans really sat down and ate biscuits with mustard after murdering someone. Legend

That acid metal playing is insane

Billy-Bob should have got an Oscar for his performance, absolutly brilliant ,

An entirely pure and honest act of absolute love and compassion. Strange and beautiful.

John Ritter should have gotten an Oscar as well

Crazy Karl gets an old mower blade sharpens it and cracks Doyle in head 2 times. Sets down at table for some biscuits and mustard. Never gets old.

One of the finest movies ever made. Each character is perfect in the aggregate. Karl is one of the purest characters ever. I just love this movie. John Ritter was incredible in it. Everything is just perfect. A mercury is a fine car…

I was misinformed,,,this was a very emotional ,wellwritten movie ,i enjoyed it a lot

Rest in peace both John Ritter Johnny Cash and Robin Williams three men who will never be replaced on this Earth ever!

There aren't many perfect movies, but this is one of them. There's not a missed beat in this entire film. Pure art.

That one second of "at that moment, he knew he F*&^cked up" Was worth the whole film.

Dwight Yoakam was amazing in this. I'm not sure I've ever hated a movie villain more.

I have seen this movie many, many times. And these scenes with Frank and Vaughan hit harder and make me cry louder than the time before...

Carl knew that eventually Doyle would kill the boy because he was in the way so Carl had to kill doyle. This is such a good movie. Great acting from Thronton, Ritter.

This is a good movie . Karl was represented in a believing way. The acting was first rate.

A masterpiece of film making, stellar performances all the way around, just perfect.

The acting in this film by Thorton is truly cinema magic.

John Ritter was an incredble actor as well as Billy Bob Thornton in this movie. What he says to him about being gay and "The Good Lord wouldn't send someone like you to hades" is an awesome line.

I worked with Billy Bob Thornton back 1992 on a B budget film. It was released in 1993 under three different titles. Ghost Brigade, The Killing Box and Grey Knight. During the filming he was telling us about this film he wrote and wanted to produce. He was walking around between takes doing this character. At the time we all thought it was kinda funny and it wouldn't go anywhere. Boy, were we wrong!

One thing I noticed about this movie is in the last scene of each character with Karl, they all say the same last word... Karl. They each call out his name and he doesnt respond. He just keeps going, which is in a metaphorical sense, what a guardian angel does. What a wonderfully well-written dialogue and character focused screenplay by Billy Bob Thorton. I wish he would go back to doing these movies again.

There are many tremendous comments here. Let me add one more: Robert Duvall, in a cameo as Karl's tortured father, is haunting and stunning. I can't think of another cameo this superb. Duvall is an American treasure.

'Sling Blade' finally reveals why Dwight Yoakam always wears a hat.

This movie is the reason I eat biscuits with mustard now.

Mannnn.. this was so powerful. Thorton, Ritter, Yoakam - Amazing. The way Karl looks down , just before the first blow... begins to breathe heavily. So real. They all knocked this one out of the park.

Man the Music, the camera moving angles, this still gets me after so many Years... Well Done. Sharpening the mower blade Holly crap man. 🙂 He had me a One hit... WOW

Thorton completely disappeared into Karl; masterful piece of acting. The question of no Oscar, will lay until the end of time. -C

Carl was a genius. He knew they would just send him back to where he came from instead of prison.

Didn't know it was Billy Bob Thornton til saw the credits. Had to watch it all over again. Great actor!

The actors, the story make this Bill Bob Thornton best work. I wish Hollywood was able to make movies of this quality again.

I am tired of the mom getting a free pass. She is just as guilty bringing Doyle around after his past actions. And she'll find another loser the same or worse than Doyle.

Dwight Yoakam must be a pretty good actor. I absolutely despised Doyle in this film! I've heard that if an actor you like can make you hate the character they are playing, they are doing a good job.

When Carl is standing in front of Doyle's house, the music reminds me of Apocalypse Now. I'm thinking that was done on purpose. Good call.

Still can't believe that's Billy Bob Thorton...

This is really the most gangster scene in any movie I've ever seen.

Carl’s not the hero we wanted, but the hero we needed. He’s a protector, a silent guardian. He is … sling blade.

Sharpening that lawn mower blade was a labor of love.

Just a great movie. I can't believe how old it is now. Rest in peace, John Ritter.

I love how they played this out in a ritualistic way....he made his plans and carried them out for the love of "that boy." Someone with low intellect but a huge heart for this young man in distress. One of my favorite movies of all time.

Watching from beginning to the end; no one in movie history needed to die more than Doyle to bring closure to a story.