Rather than focus on Karl's dark past, Thornton focuses on the growing friendship between Karl and Frank. Thornton shows Frank as a loving and innocent character. As critic Meredith Turner notes, "Thornton's film highlights Frank's relationship with the two father figures in his life: Karl Childers, and his mother's live-in boyfriend, Doyle Hargraves. Karl is a gentle and loving father figure to Frank, despite his mental handicap; Doyle, having no handicaps whatsoever, abuses Frank and makes his life unbearable. Karl's handicap allows him to see the world in a simpler view—his handicap actually strengthens him" (Turner). Karl possesses a genuine, childlike character as he relates to Frank. Karl cares deeply for Frank, which Thornton makes apparent by using several scenes of the two characters spending time together at Frank's "secret place," a beautiful lake surrounded by forest. Frank shares this place with Karl because he trusts him and loves him. Thornton shows Karl helping Frank—then just a stranger—when he carries his laundry bags home for him. Lastly, Thornton emphasizes the friendship between Karl and Frank by using a scene where Karl gives his books to Frank. Karl's books are his prized possession; he has kept them throughout his stay in the mental hospital and takes them with him when released.

Karl assumes the role of father figure for Frank because Frank's own father committed suicide when Frank was younger. Karl plays with Frank, spends time with him, and listens to him when he needs someone to talk to. Karl tries to protect him from life's harsher experiences. He tells Frank that he murdered someone and was put in the mental hospital as a result, but he encourages him not to ask questions. Karl does not think that young boys should worry about such things. Karl loves Frank and wants desperately to protect him from the other possible father figure in his life, Doyle. Linda's boyfriend is an abusive, hateful, and violent drunk who wants nothing to do with Frank. Karl fears for Frank's safety with Doyle in the house, and wants only what is best for him. Although Karl is intellectually impaired, he takes on the role of mentor, father, and friend for Frank and loves him deeply. Thornton uses this innocent portrayal to persuade the audience to trust, sympathize with, and believe in Karl, to assume he is not the typical and heartless murderer.

After Karl has decided to murder Doyle, he asks Vaughn, Linda's close friend, to take care of and protect Frank and Linda. He knows he will no longer be able to spend time with Frank so he must make sure that Frank is taken care of in his absence. He sacrifices his own liberty to ensure Frank's safety. He will always love Frank, and Thornton shows that Karl cares more about Frank's well being than his own. Karl's request of Vaughn to protect Linda and Frank and serve as a father figure for Frank in his absence shows his mental capacity. He has obviously weighed the consequences of his actions and settled on a plan to ensure both Frank and Linda's safety and happiness. This scene touches the audience as they realize Karl's caring heart, good intentions, and tremendous sacrifice.

Karl's incredible love for Frank motivates him to commit murder. He does not commit the crime for personal gain or out of any personal malice towards Doyle. Doyle had constantly berated Karl, cursed at him, and called him insulting names such as "retard," but Karl never becomes enraged by this abuse. The only thing that moves him to violence is when he sees the ill treatment and threats Doyle directs towards Frank and Linda. Karl cannot bear the thought of Doyle ever harming Frank or Linda.

Thornton deemphasizes Karl's history of violence and murder by rarely mentioning these acts. The title of the movie suggests a movie full of fearsome violence and gore, but the film is far from violent. Most of the story focuses on the developing relationship between Karl and Frank, and how the one helps the other. The past murders are only brought up twice in the movie. The first time, Karl explains the reason for his killings as a young woman interviews him in the film's opening. The murders appear again when Karl briefly explains to Linda why he was placed in the mental hospital.

Thornton also downplays these horrific crimes by negatively portraying Karl's mother. She was having a sexual relationship with a minor, whom Karl mistook for a rapist and killed to save his mother. Karl's mother did not need saving, however; she was actually having an illicit affair with the young boy. Karl was so shocked when his mother became incensed and angry at Karl's act of rescue that he decided to take her life as well. Although the audience at first has difficulty exonerating Karl for this crime, as the story progresses the audience learns to sympathize with him and place blame on his selfish mother. By the end of the movie, the audience can almost accept and understand Karl's reasoning for murder.

When Karl murders Doyle, Thornton chooses not to portray the scene in a frightening or gruesome manner. Karl carries out the murder calmly, and the scene is not horrific or even startling. Thornton does not use any artistic elements to attempt to inspire fear in the audience. The scene seems strangely natural and commonplace. Creepy or suspenseful music is not included to lead up to the murder and give the audience an unsettling feeling. Thornton utilizes warm and soft lighting instead of the typical stark shadows used in eerie scenes from typical horror films. "Underlying everything is Sling Blade's pure and simple style; Thornton shot the movie with an effective sit-back-and-watch-it implacability" (Atkinson). The film flows from scene to scene without dramatic transitions or surprising changes. The camera angles used emphasize the everyday aspect of the film's scenes. Even the murder scene has little more dramatic effect than any of the other typical movie scenes.

Thornton uses several strategies to downplay Karl's violent behavior and reveal his softer side. Although Karl has committed ruthless acts of murder with a sling blade, the audience does not criticize his behavior. He is the sympathetic protagonist who sacrifices his personal freedom to save the people he loves. Thornton portrays him as a kind, gentle, and loving human being. While stressing the friendship of Karl and Frank, Thornton simultaneously accentuates Karl's mental capacity. Although mentally disabled, Karl is obviously capable of reasoning and decision-making. He is rarely portrayed as an intellectually disabled man incapable of thinking, understanding, or feeling. Thornton carefully emphasizes Karl's good nature so that the audience sympathizes with him and accepts his rationale for murder.

Works Cited

Atkinson, Michael. "Sling Blade." Online. Internet. 4 Dec. 2006. Available http://www.movieline.com/reviews/slingblade.shtml.

Sling Blade. Dir. Billy Bob Thornton. Perf. Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, Lucas Black. 1996. DVD.

Turner, Meredith. "Sling Blade: Handicaps Make a Better Man." Online. Internet. 4 Dec. 2006. Available http://www.cinekklesia.com/mt/archives/2006/01/sling_blade_han.html.

by guest student writer Laurie DeGraw