The Slaughter Rule employs the vast landscapes of rural Montana and a particularly fast and brutal variation on traditional Grid Iron as the background for its potent story. The film examines the destructive relationship between a washed-up coach, Gideon Ferguson and his protégé, Roy Chutney (Ryan Gosling). The story hinges on the exceptional performances by the leads: David Morse, as Ferguson, assumes a role as powerful as those he tackled in The Crossing Guard and The Indian Runner.

Ferguson assembles his dream team for a bush league of 'six man', a cut-down football side designed for speed and attack. Considerable sums change hands in side bets. Thuggish behaviour is rife, but Roy Chutney is just glad to be playing. Destined to inherit a failing farm, contending with an absent mother and dead father, he turns to his new coach for companionship and guidance. Ferguson, however, is dogged by a shady past and rumours about the death of one of his former champions. A phenomenal debut singled out for praise at 2002 Sundance Film Festival.

"The scenes between Morse and Gosling crackle with a dangerous emotional electricity." - New York Times

Twin brothers Alex and Andrew Smith co-wrote and directed the short The Keening, which screened at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. Prior to that they wrote The Faithful, The Radioactive Boy Scout and The Wide Open.