Shotgun Stories is a decently-acted thriller set in the back streets of Southeast Arkansas about a feud that grows between two groups of half brothers following the death of their father.

Fisherman Son Hayes has shotgun scars on his back, but seeks to protect the interests of his younger brothers, the quirky but less intelligent Kid who lives in a tent in Son's garden and gadget-minded Boy who's into Basketball and living like a bum out of a camper van.

When their estranged father dies, Son, Kid and Boy head to a funeral. There they meet the family that occupied their Dad's time after he ran out on them.

The boys' mother poisoned the brothers view of their absent father. His newly adopted family don't take kindly when Son attempts to suggest that the father that both families' knew is not the kind man they thought of him as. Son's outrageous antics at the funeral spark a feud that will get dangerously out of control.

Shotgun Stories is a finely-tuned thriller that will keep you guessing as to how it will end right up to the final reel. It's well-edited with scenes pared down to a fine minimum. The dialogue is raw but also movingly realistic at times and director Jeff Nichols deserves particular commendation for making all the characters thoroughly believable and also producing fine performances from the likes of Michael Shannon as Son, Douglas Ligon as Boy and Barlow Jacobs as Kid.

What's particularly likeable about this contemporary blue-collar thriller is that there are no unnecessary chase sequences. Violence only rears its head occasionally and for the most part both sides want to lead peaceful lives without the feud that exists between them. Shotgun Stories is a cool slowburner of a thriller that deserves to be widely seen.