Blackbird

2012

1h 46m

Drama

List

57%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Troubled teen Sean Randall is falsely accused of plotting a Columbine-like shooting.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Rent Blackbird on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

Audience Member

Original look into human behaviour and society. Good characters and a multi dimensional plot. If you are after action packed it's not for you

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's about a goth teen who is accused and punished/sentenced for planning a horrific school massacre. While many of the accusations are falsely implied and stem from manipulated source material, he does actually make threats, even of killing another student. So although the film sets out to sympathize with the young man, later monickered as "Columbine" for obvious reasons, he kind of deserved his fate. He was a creepy dude, in fact, still was after his release. I didn't understand the girl's infatuation with him, either. But we do see a change in the young teen, and admire his strength in standing up to the court system and his desire to coerce his juvenile detention center bully into becoming a better person. The movie was interesting enough.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A rare treat. I really don't get why it's been put off the radar. Surprizingly good newer film that so far has gotten a slim audience. We meet a young man, 15 or so, and he is not the big thing at school. The other students sling him comments and treat him badly. He dresses quite different, goth-like, and since he stands out he's an easy target. It does not help that his parents are divorced, never seeming to care much - he is a problem. Even his bus ride friends act different at school. Sean Randall is not the guy to be seen with. Especially not if you are the most popular girl at school and the hockey team captain and alpha male's girl. Still, Sean is obsessed - she does treat him good when they are hidden from the cooler dudes. His anger is rising and to cope with his feelings he writes down some sort of revenge plan. Guns and killing are included. The police get's hands on it and there it is: Sean has planned a school shoot out and he is in big trouble. Cliches are treated well here, and it feels like something fresh. The characters are not the most belivable, but that's about the only solid flaw here. "We Need to Talk About Kevin" comes to mind as a similiar film. Many other "young troubled boy against the world" movies too. Lovely written and with a great pacing it got me hooked from the beginning. It's shot in away that makes me feel being part of the story - it's quite intense stuff at times. It's out of your comfort zone - in a good way, I'm sure it will stick with me for a long time. The young actors does their jobs superbly , and so does the debut director. I'm looking forward to more of his stuff, it it's ever possible to track down that is. 9 out of 10 iPhone wrappings.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A worrisome treatment of a teen in today's politically correct times.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Serge L

Forget the critics, this is a very human tale, well developped and well acted. It has a surprisingly fresh and real feel. Teenagers grow quickly from naive to assertive. I really like the progression and the realism of the film. I am surprised there was no french version since it is a canadian film very suitable for the francophile. Very good work.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/17/15

Full Review

Audience Member

Forget the critics, this is a very human tale, well developped and well acted. It has a surprisingly fresh and real feel. Teenagers grow quickly from naive to assertive. I really like the progression and the realism of the film. I am surprised there was no french version since it is a canadian film very suitable for the francophile. Very good work.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Jason Buxton

Director

Alexia Fast

Deanna Roy

Connor Jessup

Sean Randall

Tanya Clarke

Paula

Michael Buie

Ricky Randall

Jeremy Akerman

Superintendant Kirby

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

17%

86%

People v. the State of Illusion

81%

65%

The Sisterhood of Night

27%

43%

King of the Travellers

57%

55%

Road to Paloma

40%

25%

Restless Virgins

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

The clock starts to drag, and some energy is lost. But the movie displays a lot of promise both in front of and behind the lens.

Rated: 3/4

May 10, 2013

Full Review

Michael Posner

Globe and Mail

Credit to Buxton here for extracting conviction from such young actors. The performances aren't wholly redemptive, but they are compelling.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 10, 2013

Full Review

Radheyan Simonpillai

NOW Toronto

Though I appreciate Buxton's rookie attempt to present an alternative look at teen rage, I can't help seeing that this overreaching film goes nowhere with only clichs to guide it.

Rated: 2/5

May 9, 2013

Full Review

Terry Staunton

Radio Times

This well-paced chase thriller stars Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde as sibling crooks on the run from a botched casino heist.

Rated: 3/5

May 16, 2013

Full Review

Katherine Monk

Canada.com

This debut feature from Nova Scotia filmmaker Jason Buxton offers a series of subtle revelations that challenge expectation without a hint of soapbox grandstanding or raging primal screams.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 10, 2013

Full Review

Bill Chambers

Film Freak Central

Told with a rare mix of humanity and procedural clarity that recalls, nay, honours the late, great Alan Clarke.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 19, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Troubled teen Sean Randall is falsely accused of plotting a Columbine-like shooting.

Director: Jason Buxton
Producer: Thom Fitzgerald, Chad Maker
Screenwriter: Jason Buxton
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 46m

Most Popular at Home Now