''Silver Bullets'' is a 2011 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Joe Swanberg. The film stars Kate Lyn Sheil, Ti West, Swanberg and Amy Seimetz. It is one of six films released by Swanberg in 2011. The film had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 12, 2011, and was then released in a

limited release __FORCETOC__ Limited theatrical release is a film distribution strategy of releasing a new film in a few cinemas across a country, typically art house theaters in major metropolitan markets. Since 1994, a limited theatrical release in the Unite ...

on October 28, 2011, by Factory25.

Plot

Actress Claire (Sheil) has been cast in the lead role, as a werewolf, in the upcoming movie ''Silver Bullets'' by indie horror filmmaker Ben (West). Her boyfriend Ethan (Swanberg) is also a filmmaker, though aimless and self-doubting in contrast to Ben's confidence. Ethan decides to cast Claire's best friend Charlie (Seimetz) as his character's girlfriend in his next movie, and the two film some love scenes together, which Claire is unhappy about. Claire is further thrown into turmoil after Ben tries to kiss her.

Cast

* Kate Lyn Sheil as Claire * Ti West as Ben * Larry Fessenden as Sam * Jane Adams as June * Joe Swanberg as Ethan * Amy Seimetz as Charlie

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 12, 2011. and screened at

SXSW South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and Convention (meeting), conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas. It began in 1987 and has conti ...

on March 13, 2011. The film was released in a

by Factory25 on October 28, 2011.

Reception

Richard Brody of ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...

'' named it the 9th best film of 2011 '' Variety'' stated that the film "probably contains Swanberg's clearest exposition of his philosophy, yet its sad aimlessness, from the mouth of an unhappy director (played by the helmer), elicits only a begrudging pity." A review in '' The A.V. Club'' stated that "''Silver Bullets''’ introspection feels earned", but that the film "splinters into an ending that isn’t entirely satisfying, though a prologue and epilogue suggest these issues of control and the line between pretense and reality continue throughout one’s creative life" and gave a "B+" grade. A ''New York Times'' reviewer concluded that the film "neither pleases the eye nor stimulates the mind. At one point Mr. Swanberg’s character announces that he couldn’t care less about getting good reviews. Whew, I feel so much better."

References

External links

* * * {{Joe Swanberg 2011 films 2011 horror films Films directed by Joe Swanberg American independent films Mumblecore films Films about actors Films about filmmaking 2010s American films