"Eric LaRue" Trailer: A Mother Faces Unbearable Grief in Michael Shannon's Directorial Debut Starring Judy Greer

Actor Michael Shannon steps behind the camera for a harrowing drama about a mother confronting the aftermath of her son’s violent crime.

Michael Shannon is a phenomenal actor—we can all agree on that, right? With two Oscar nominations and countless awards and accolades under his belt, Shannon has nothing left to prove. He’s easily one of the best actors of his generation. But for his latest project, he’s stepping into new territory—this time, behind the camera. Shannon is giving directing a shot for the first time in his career. And it's a drama that feels very much in line with the kind of roles he’s known for—dark, stoic, emotionally distressing, and simmering with quiet intensity.

Check out the official trailer for Michael Shannon's directorial debut, Eric LaRue, a tragic drama about a small-town family grappling with the devastating aftermath of their son’s horrific violent actions.

They say casting is everything. And if that’s the case, Shannon may have already proven his prowess as a director because he’s assembled an impressive cast for his directorial debut—specifically, his choice for the movie's lead, Judy Greer! She's one of those beloved working actresses who has never gotten her due, but damn, does she deserve it.

After decades in the business, Greer frequently plays the loyal best friend, snippy co-worker, or bubbly next-door neighbor to the lead. Greer has fully embraced her “co-star” status in Hollywood, as she notes in her self-effacing 2014 memoir, I Don't Know What You Know Me From: My Life as a Co-Star.

So, to see Greer get the chance to bite into a meaty part like this —well, it nearly warms the heart of anyone who has followed her work since the days of 13 Going on 30.

In the film, Greer stars as Janice, a solemnly depressed mother of a teenage boy. She watches her life and marriage crumble into a pile of painful emotions as she grapples with the fallout of her son's shocking and unthinkable actions. Meanwhile, Janice's husband, played by Alexander Skarsgård, turns to religion and faith as a way to cope, while she increasingly becomes more lost and confused about how to move forward—if she even can.

What did her son do? Well, this newly released trailer doesn't explicitly reveal it at first, but we get the idea that it involves a tragic shooting.

For her raw performance as this emotionally confused, heavy-hearted mother, Greer is receiving high marks from critics, with some calling it her career best. And again, for those who have followed her work for decades, it feels a little vindicating—like, yes, good for her! We knew she was so much more than the bubbly best friend.

Besides Greer and Skarsgård, the rest of the cast is stacked with talent, including Tracy Letts, Alison Pill, Paul Sparks, and Annie Parisse.

Eric LaRue is written by Brett Neveu, based on his own play of the same name, which makes sense given how much the movie feels driven by its characters and the emotional dynamics between them.

Eric LaRue will be coming to theaters on April 4, followed by a VOD release on April 11. Watch the trailer above.

Here's the official synopsis:

In ERIC LARUE, Janice (Judy Greer) is coping with the fallout after her son murders three of his high school classmates. Struggling and moving through life as if in a haze, she is unable to let go of her anger and frustration. While her husband (Alexander Skarsgård) has found refuge at a new church, Janice finds it hard to seek solace in her faith despite her pastor’s pleas to heal her wounds by meeting with the mothers of her son’s victims. As Janice ponders what that meeting could achieve for her and her community, ERIC LARUE asks audiences to witness the frayed emotional ripples that violent acts can engender.