'Eric LaRue' explores coping under fire

“Eric LaRue” (2023 production, 2025 release). Cast: Judy Greer, Alexander Skarsgård, Nation Sage Henrikson, Paul Sparks, Tracy Letts, Allison Pill, Mierka “Mookie” Girten, Lawrence Grimm, Jennifer Engstrom, Annie Parise, Kate Arrington, Jacob Alexander, Sierra Foley, Marylouise Burke, Logan Newkirk (uncredited). Director: Michael Shannon. Screenplay: Brett Neveu. Play: Brett Neveu, Eric LaRue (2002). Web site Trailer. 

When one lives in a small town, it’s not uncommon for everyone to seemingly know everybody else’s business, a circumstance that can be inconvenient, frustrating or annoying. But, worse than that, if one is somehow associated with an incident that’s tragic, scandalous or unspeakable, dealing with the fallout of such conditions (and the associated consequences) can be wholly intolerable. These situations place the affected under a very bright spotlight, creating circumstances that make these often-unwitting victims the subject of scrutiny, scorn, ridicule, ostracism and a host of other unpleasantries. So how does one cope in scenarios like this? The answers often don’t come easily, leaving one unable to find the means to not only recover from the event, but also to learn how to resume a reasonably normal everyday life. Such are the relentlessly daunting challenges faced by a seriously chastised parent in the intense new domestic drama, “Eric LaRue.” 

Janice LaRue (Judy Greer) used to lead a fairly normal, seemingly contented life as a small town working class wife and mother – that is, until one day when her family’s life was turned upside down and inside out. Janice’s teenage son, Eric (Nation Sage Henrikson), a quiet but frequently taunted adolescent, went to school one day and matter-of-factly gunned down three male classmates. And, after he coldly carried out this heinous act, he walked home and calmly sat down to watch television until the police arrived, whereupon they ransacked his room and hauled him off to jail. From that point onward, nothing would ever be the same in the LaRue household. 

Janice knew that Eric had occasionally been the object of hazing, but he generally seemed to let most of it roll off his back (or so she thought). Little did she know what was simmering inside him and the shocking way in which it would eventually be released. His actions were so astonishingly brutal and unexpected that she didn’t know how to respond. But that was nothing compared to what she would have to contend with from those around her. 

In the wake of the tragedy, anyone in town who hadn’t previously known Janice certainly knew her now, and the deplorable treatment thrust upon her by virtually everyone has since become unyielding. Their reactions to her vary widely, from open hostility to calculated derision to impatient intolerance, responses that apparently echo the same forms of treatment to which Eric had been subjected just for being himself. And, at a time when even a modicum of compassion or understanding might help her cope with these trying circumstances, virtually none is to be had. 

As this drama unfolds, viewers thus witness the deluge of negativity and unforgiving scorn inflicted upon her. What’s more, most everyone treats her as being wholly unworthy of any kind of courtesy or consideration for the devastating loss she’s experienced, even going so far as to heap contempt upon her as being an inherently unfit mother. And, because of this, Janice has been cast adrift, unaware of what to do with the shambles of what’s left of her life. 

Admittedly, there are those who seem to want to help Janice, but they’re more concerned with “fixing” her than helping her meaningfully heal. That’s most apparent with her husband, Ron (Alexander Skarsgård), who’s convinced that Janice desperately needs Jesus to help set her on a renewed and righteous path. He firmly believes she’ll benefit from the divinely inspired guidance of his prayer group and the patronizing ministering of Bill Verne (Tracy Letts), pastor of the fundamentalist congregation he attends. And Ron is so insistent in his convictions that he tries pressuring Janice into following his lead. But, when she resists, he grows frustrated, quietly turning to his co-worker and fellow parishioner, Lisa (Allison Pill), for comfort, a move that threatens his marriage (and possibly hers). (So much for the sanctity of Christian fidelity.) 

Given Ron’s overbearing evangelizing, Janice searches out her own form of spiritual guidance, joining a traditional Presbyterian parish headed by Pastor Steve Calhan (Paul Sparks). The genial but socially awkward preacher sincerely tries to help Janice find some answers by arranging in intervention between her and the victims’ mothers (Jennifer Engstrom, Annie Parisse, Kate Arrington), an experience that quickly goes south in the wake of their varying and unanticipated reactions and the pastor’s profound ineptitude, good intentions notwithstanding. 

Janice also finds little comfort and support at her job at a local discount store. Upon returning to work after a leave of absence, she encounters rude customers (Jacob Alexander, Sierra Foley), who clandestinely but insensitively mock her based on her tragic experience, an incident that prompts her to lose her cool. It also raises concerns for her well-meaning supervisor (Mierka “Mookie” Girten) and tries the patience of the store manager (Lawrence Grimm), placing her job – and income – in jeopardy. 

Needless to say, all of these stresses pile up, filling Janice’s plate to an unmanageable level. And, to top it all off, Janice hasn’t been able to bring herself to visit Eric in prison. He may be her son, yet he’s also the source of all the disruption that has plagued her life. It’s bad enough that she’s been chastised for having raised such a monstrous son, but she also wrestles with seeing herself as a monstrous mother for having possibly failed him and essentially abandoning him to deal with a life behind bars. (Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.) 

Obviously, Janice can’t keep going on like this, but what comes next? That’s what she must figure out for herself – and soon – if she’s to retain any semblance of her sanity and self-respect. Here’s hoping she can do that, despite the stacked deck that would appear to be seriously working against her. Fortunately, there’s a way out if she’s willing to embrace it, but it may be difficult, as it involves making some hard choices and requires her to take a hard look at herself and her existence. And doing that calls for her to examine her beliefs, the cornerstone foundation of her world and the form it takes, a product of the conscious creation process, the philosophy underlying its manifestation. It’s unclear whether Janice has ever heard of this way of thinking, but, if she ever hopes to get herself out of this bind, she should certainly make an effort to learn about it and put it to use if she’s ever to change her life and give herself a shot at a viable future. 

To this end, the most important question Janice must ask herself at this juncture is, “What must I do to move on from where I’m at?” It seems as though she may have been struggling to address this but has yet to come up with a viable answer. However, the solution may actually be simple, if somewhat unsettling, intimidating or unpalatable: When faced with circumstances that no longer serve us, perhaps the most effective way to deal with them is to relinquish them entirely, to give up on trying to alter the perceptions of those who have already made up their minds and to change the playing field in adopting a new way of life. That necessarily involves letting go of the existence we know and everything associated with it, embracing radically different beliefs to create a new everyday reality. 

That might well seem like an extremely scary prospect to many of us. And that’s particularly true where Janice is concerned considering the enduring trauma she’s been through. Nevertheless, in light of what she’s had to undergo, is it truly wise to continue to do so? Given how unrelenting this scenario has been, is it realistic to think that it will be any different going forward, especially since efforts at attempting to reconcile it have invariably proved unsuccessful? Under conditions like this, starting with a clean slate may be the best option. 

To be sure, this is probably a daunting prospect for Janice. The incessant barrage of scorn and ridicule has left her locked in place, unsure of what to do, but remaining in such a state is ultimately no better. Contrary to widely held contentions, sometimes the devil we don’t know may indeed be preferable to the one we do, especially when we’ve seen what havoc the more familiar demon is capable of wreaking. 

Admittedly, in contemplating such a profound change, Janice has her work cut out for herself. There’s ample setup work to be done before proceeding, especially where her beliefs are concerned, particularly in terms of the role they’ll play in helping her manifest a new direction. First, she must decide and heartily believe that what she’s been through is no longer tolerable, and, by this point, she’s certainly had more than her share of opportunities to find that out for herself. The answers here should be quite clear by now and provide the impetus to let go of what’s holding her back. 

Next, Janice must assess the impact of what she’ll be giving up, which could be seen as quite substantial. Nevertheless, her experience also shows that holding on to such unending negativity provides her with little to draw upon in forging an acceptable life. But that, in turn, requires her to determine what might be causing her apprehension to do so. In all likelihood, doubt and fear of the unknown are the culprits keeping her stuck, beliefs that are quite powerful in themselves and can readily prevent us from implementing meaningful change. Getting past those limiting notions is thus critical. Moreover, that process can be significantly bolstered by zealously embracing beliefs related to courage and personal heroism, potent counterpoints to the inhibiting beliefs that have left Janice trapped in her circumstances. 

In a sense, shifting one’s perspective in this regard may not be as difficult as one might think. Janice has had ample opportunity to see what her experience has brought her. And, considering the consequences, she must frankly ask herself, is this something she wants to continue? What’s most telling in this is that Janice’s experience has allowed her to see the true colors of those around her. Indeed, it could be argued that their unflattering traits were in place even before the tragedy with Eric took place; they were simply waiting for a catalyst to bring them to the surface. In fact, in light of the incident that sparked this scenario, those same qualities could have been what prompted Eric to respond to them as he did, even if it wasn’t the wisest choice on his part and even if Janice couldn’t see or appreciate the nature of their presence until she was subjected to them firsthand.  

With realizations like these, Janice may now be on the brink of seeing those around her for who they truly are – miserable, meddling, judgmental individuals who unapologetically inflict pain and suffering on others without taking into account the impact such behavior has on those they’ve targeted. Even those who think they’re helping may unwittingly end up adding to the confusion wrought by those who are more willfully malicious and unforgiving in their intents. This includes many of the local residents, Janice’s co-workers, her own husband and perhaps even Eric himself. They represent people she no longer needs in her life, thereby making it easier for her to decide that they’re highly toxic, undesirable and expendable influences. Blaming her for an act that she didn’t commit solves nothing; in fact, it only makes her life that much more difficult. Their actions thus reflect the damaging beliefs they’ve willingly adopted, even if unconsciously. 

So, with that understanding, then, why would Janice want to keep them in her life? What purpose would that serve? She’s had plenty of opportunities to see that holding on to such influences won’t get her the redemption she seeks or the life she wants and deserves. Given that, then, maybe letting go of them isn’t as foreboding a notion as she has allowed herself to long believe. Walking away from this circle of familiars may call for courage, will and fortitude but perhaps not nearly as much as what she has led herself to believe, particularly when considering what taking such proactive steps might accomplish in the end. 

Considering what transpires in this film, it could be argued that this is more Janice’s story than Eric’s, despite the title of the work. But that doesn’t diminish the message that the picture is seeking to convey. So many of us have allowed ourselves to tolerate conditions that don’t benefit us, either through fear, complacency, or even a basic lack of awareness of what’s unfolding around us or holding us back. However, that doesn’t mean we have to settle for or surrender to such circumstances. We can choose new and more satisfying paths for ourselves without having to resort to rash or ill-conceived acts. Eric may not have shown us that, but Janice certainly does, providing us with a lead worth following when conditions warrant. 

Struggling to find clarity in a sea of confusion can be a truly frustrating experience as Janice discovers for herself in this intense domestic drama. And watching her grasp at straws to find answers can be just as maddening for viewers as it is for her (one of the criticisms that has been frequently leveled against this work). Nonetheless, the film’s spot-on depiction of her seemingly fruitless search provides audiences with an insightful look at what individuals in her shoes often go through. Director Michael Shannon’s gripping presentation of this story thus has an edge-of-the-seat quality that one might not typically find in a story like this, especially since resolution of the issues examined here often seems hopelessly 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 addition to the foregoing matters, the film once again raises thorny 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 while 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 been long time in coming to the cinematic marketplace, 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. The film is available for streaming online. 

Coping under fire is something most of us would probably rather avoid. While it may be true that it can help us build up our emotional strength and our capacity for problem solving, it can also be a major energy drain that can continue to drag us down and make it increasingly difficult for us to get back on our feet (no matter what inspirational platitudes might contend otherwise). In that sense, then, sometimes the best way to overcome such hardships is to make a clean break, to cut our losses and move on, ridding ourselves of people, places and things that no longer serve us. That can be a challenging step, but, in the long run, it could be the best thing we could do for ourselves. Remember that the next time you feel cornered – and look for a way to escape that fate so you never have to endure it again. 

Copyright © 2025, by Brent Marchant. All rights reserved.