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The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd

Play trailer The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd 2026 2h 1m Crime Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 17 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Based on actual events, when a teacher in an abusive marriage takes a job leading creative writing classes at a maximum security prison, she begins to fall for a charismatic inmate. The consequences call into question not only the nature of punishment and retribution, but the very limits of our humanity.

Critics Reviews

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David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter Sep 17, 2026
Nelson took 12 years to get the project made, and that labor-of-love aspect shows in the soulfulness and meticulous care the writer-director brings to this unsettling story of violence begetting violence, based on actual events. Go to Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Sep 17, 2026
McNairy is powerful and Seyfried is subtle, but "Wilson Shedd" stumbles almost everywhere else. Go to Full Review David Ehrlich IndieWire Sep 15, 2026
B
Needless to say, the writer-director does himself a great favor by casting an actor as likable as Scoot McNairy in the part. Go to Full Review Therese Lacson Collider Sep 22, 2026
8/10
Tim Blake Nelson delivers a brutal, heartbreaking, and difficult film that has a stunning performance from Scoot McNairy. Go to Full Review Anna Miller Next Best Picture Sep 21, 2026
7/10
Ultimately, "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd" is cohesive enough, with enough talent, drama, and intrigue to captivate viewers through its runtime. Go to Full Review Abe Friedtanzer Awards Buzz Sep 20, 2026
5/10
There’s a fascinating idea and premise here that hasn’t been put together into something coherent, focused on the less important and relevant pieces and resulting in an overall unsatisfactory whole. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Tim Blake Nelson

Director

Amanda Seyfried

Actor

Scoot McNairy

Actor

Missi Pyle

Actor

Devyn A. Tyler

Actor

Elizabeth Marvel

Actor
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The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on actual events, when a teacher in an abusive marriage takes a job leading creative writing classes at a maximum security prison, she begins to fall for a charismatic inmate. The consequences call into question not only the nature of punishment and retribution, but the very limits of our humanity.
Director
Tim Blake Nelson
Producer
Tim Blake Nelson, Ryan Bartecki, Miles David Romney
Screenwriter
Tim Blake Nelson
Production Co
Red Barn Films, Co Created Media, V42, QWGmire
Genre
Crime, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Runtime
2h 1m
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