A Single Shot

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A Single Shot

R

Released Sep 20, 2013

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

31%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A poacher (Sam Rockwell) becomes the quarry of merciless criminals after he takes the cash he found while hunting in the backwoods.

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Critics Consensus

It has a bleak sense of atmosphere and a terrific performance by Sam Rockwell, but A Single Shot is undercut by its predictable story and slow pace.

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Jessica Kiang

The Playlist

A Single Shot does not add up to anywhere near the sum of its parts, and as individually impressive as any of those parts might be (Rockwell), we are left with a film that, if not quite a Frankenstein's monster, is certainly patchworky.

Rated: C+

Sep 20, 2013

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Christy Lemire

RogerEbert.com

An odd mix of beautifully bleak atmosphere and hammily mannered performances, "A Single Shot" is simultaneously understated and overpowering.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 20, 2013

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Both predictable and outlandish.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 20, 2013

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

"A Single Shot" attempts some key moments to further the suspense, but they are short and not all that captivating.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 28, 2025

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an exhaustingly tedious endeavor that rarely, if ever, becomes as electrifying (or entertaining) as its premise might’ve indicated...

Rated: 2/4

Mar 30, 2025

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JD Duran

InSession Film

The score is grim and dark but is exactly what this movie calls for. It’s slow, stringy but adds a good element to the thrilling moments of the film.

Rated: B+

Aug 15, 2024

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J B

First screne shot . Knew it wasn't the mountains of WV. Dirtbag hunter , kill and only take hind quarters .

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

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Nicolas P

Great cast, terrible movie. Never really gets going, difficult to follow in some parts (must be the editing) and mumbling actors make it difficult to understand the dialogue in certain scenes. I really expected more with Sam Rockwell and William H Macy...

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

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Jelisije J

A movie that could have shaved its run time by 40 minutes and could have provided the same story in a not long dragged out way.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

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J B

If I had followed the audience and critics reviews I'd have skipped this movie and I'm so glad I didn't! Sam Rockwell was amazing! His acting is always great but he was stellar in this. It was a slow burn, and I guess maybe there may have been plot holes but personally, having come from the country side myself, LOTS a can happen including gunshots, that no one pays attention to. I loved the story., the pace and the ending. Jeffery Wright was also excellent in this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

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George G

Wonderfully atmospheric. I could almost taste the backwoods grit and dirt and sweat. Sam Rockwell, one of the finest actors in Hollywood, casts a spell with his hardluck, tight-lipped bush hardness. Can't understand the underwhelming reviews for this work, which surely stands up against the best modern rural-noir like Winter's Bone. Maybe the negative critics really need to view it again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

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patrick b

Better than the critic reviews would have you think. Dark, atmospheric, and well-acted.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

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David M. Rosenthal

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Synopsis

A poacher (Sam Rockwell) becomes the quarry of merciless criminals after he takes the cash he found while hunting in the backwoods.

Director: David M. Rosenthal
Producer: Keith Kjarval, Chris Coen, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jeff Rice
Screenwriter: Matthew F. Jones
Distributor: Tribeca Film
Production Co: Unified Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Nudity|Sexual Content|Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 29, 2014
Runtime: 1h 56m

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