Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman is a gripping and emotionally raw drama that follows a woman forced to make impossible choices. Written and directed by Kerry Ann Enright, the film centers on Mary (Tina Benko), a single mother left broke and emotionally wrecked after her controlling husband, John (Lev Gorn), is killed when the consequences of his lengthy criminal history finally catch up with him. With no job and no savings, Mary must suddenly figure out how to provide for her son alone.
John had just surprised Mary with a house, and for a moment, it seemed like their lives might stabilize. However, without his illegal income, that new home quickly becomes a reminder of everything she has lost. With nowhere to turn and no legitimate means of support, Mary turns to the same criminal activities John was involved in. She starts as a getaway driver, but her crimes escalate, and she soon finds herself fully immersed in the same world her husband once lived in. From the very first robbery, she wears the same disguise: a brunette wig, black round sunglasses, and a trench coat. The media quickly latches onto her image, and when footage captures her using a machine gun, the nickname “Machine Gun Mary” is born. As Mary continues her spree, the outfit becomes more than a disguise—it becomes a form of armor.
Benko’s performance carries much of the film’s emotional gravity. Her portrayal of Mary is both restrained and emotionally forceful, revealing the character’s internal struggle without ever overplaying it. The acting is passionate, layered, and utterly vital to the experience of the film. Benko gives Mary real depth, showing both her quiet strength and exhaustion that comes from trying to hold everything together by herself. Each moment she’s on screen carries emotional weight and meaning. Her performance lets the audience feel Mary’s fear, anger, and resilience without reducing her to either a victim or a hero.
The film stands out beyond its crime-centered plot because its visuals reflect Mary’s emotional state. Enright uses a handheld camera style, giving the film a personal and unpolished look. The camera often stays close to the characters, helping the audience stay connected to Mary and the tension she carries. The lighting feels natural and raw, and the muted color palette shapes the film’s mood. These choices create a drained and heavy atmosphere, much like Mary’s emotional state. The world around her looks quiet and faded, something she moves through with effort rather than ease. The visuals never try to stand out, but they gently reflect the film’s themes of survival, stress, and isolation.
While the plot itself is compelling, what gives the film its emotional weight is its attention to character. Enright does not rush through Mary’s transformation. The story takes its time, allowing us to feel the pressure building around her. The film doesn’t ask the audience to justify her choices, but it does ask them to consider the reality of her situation. It becomes clear that this is not a crime story as much as it is about desperation, motherhood, and the pressure of being left to figure everything out alone.
Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman is a slow-burning look at a woman pushed past her limit. Instead of glamorizing violence or crime, the film focuses on the emotional toll of survival and the quiet breakdown of someone with nowhere to turn. It asks viewers to think about the systems that let women like Mary down and encourages us to consider the human story behind every desperate choice. The result is haunting, personal, and profoundly moving.
Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman screens at the Summer 2025 New Jersey Film Festival on Sunday, June 8th. The film will be Online for 24 Hours and In-Person at 7 PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ. Director Kerry Ann Enright will be present to do a Q+A at the In-Person screening. Tickets are available for purchase here.
The 30th annual New Jersey International Film Festival will be taking place between May 30-June 13, 2025. The Festival will be a hybrid one as we will be presenting it online as well as doing select in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person when both are offered. Plus, we are very proud to announce that acclaimed singer-songwriter Mike Kovacs will be doing an audio-visual concert on Friday, June 13 at 7PM! The in-person screenings and the Mike Kovacs concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program.
For more info go here: https://2025newjerseyinternationalfilmfestival.eventive.org/welcome
