A Single Shot

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A Single Shot

R,

2013,

1h 56m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

45%

53 Reviews

Tomatometer

31%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

53 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.

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

Sep 20, 2013

C+

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.

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Christy Lemire

RogerEbert.com

Sep 20, 2013

2/4

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

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Sep 20, 2013

2/4

Both predictable and outlandish.

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Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Mar 24, 2026

This was a rough one. Despite the snail pace torture of the plot, performances are definitely worth acknowledging from Sam Rockwell and Jeffrey Wright

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28, 2025

2/5

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

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Mar 30, 2025

2/4

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

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Albus W

Mar 22, 2019

Taut and atmospheric, Single Shot is a gripping rural crime drama, like a Cohen Bros. film without the yuks. It held me in suspense to the end, with some twists I didn't foresee. Worth catching for Rockwell's usual outstanding work.

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Poe R

Apr 13, 2018

Was actually hoping for better. The story was a little too far fetched.

Draco L

Apr 25, 2017

Sam Rockwell is great, but the story is too predictable.

Albus R

Mar 14, 2017

Atmospheric and well acted but the slow burn and obvious plot leaps leave this as a unsatisfying watch.

Kylo S

Jan 16, 2017

not bad, nice character piece- though did have a major issue understanding alot of dialog due to the ultra south everyone spoke in (good for the movie characters bad for non south people trying to understand southern mumbles). Kinda nice to see Rockwell acting instead of getting close and then falling back on comedy in a pinch (to which i like, but havent ever really seen this side personally from him).

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David M. Rosenthal

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John Moon

William H. Macy

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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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