"Sling Blade" is a 1996 film written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, who also stars as the main character, Karl Childers. The story follows Karl, a man with a developmental disability, who is released from a mental institution after many years. He returns to his hometown, where he struggles to adapt to life outside and confronts his past. As Karl forms a bond with a young boy named Frank Wheatley and his mother, Linda, he faces challenges from the boy's abusive stepfather, Doyle. The film explores themes of friendship, violence, and redemption, ultimately leading to a dramatic and emotional conclusion.