The Shickles
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An Eccentric Family, a Funeral, and the Unexpected Chaos That Follows
Family gatherings are often unpredictable affairs. Add grief, long-buried secrets, and a collection of personalities that appear to have wandered in from entirely different genres, and the result begins to resemble The Shickles, a 2016 independent comedy-drama written and directed by filmmaker Donna Trousdale. The film explores the aftermath of loss inside a large Jewish family whose emotional equilibrium proves to be roughly as stable as a stack of teacups balanced on a trampoline.
The story begins after the death of the family’s beloved grandparents, Elroy and Nanna Shickles. Their passing becomes the gravitational center that pulls a wide assortment of relatives, acquaintances, and unresolved tensions into orbit. According to production and cast records from IMDb, the ensemble cast includes Zach Alden, Suziey Block, Michael Lerner, Zoë Lillian, Justin Preston, Teresa Ganzel, JohnPaul Ouvrier, Brandy McKay, and D.C. Douglas. Together they form a cinematic family portrait that is less Norman Rockwell and more emotional pinball machine.
The Shickles Family Web
Jason, Margot, and the Next Generation
At the center of the film is Jason Shickles, played by Zach Alden. Jason is the sort of man who carries his heart openly and perhaps a little unwisely on his sleeve. A single father, he is devoted to his teenage daughter Grace, portrayed by Zoë Lillian. Grace functions as the emotional compass of the story, navigating the bewildering adult world unfolding around her with the quiet observation that only teenagers seem to possess.
Jason’s complicated family network also includes Margot Shickles, played by Suziey Block. Margot is a woman balancing grief, personal upheaval, and the sort of family expectations that can transform any ordinary day into a dramatic opera.
Meanwhile, teenage characters such as Michael, portrayed by Justin Preston, add youthful perspective to the situation, watching the adults stumble through crises with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.
D.C. Douglas as Barry
The Most Mysterious Member of the Clan
Among the extended family orbiting the Shickles household is Barry, portrayed by actor D.C. Douglas. Barry happens to be Margot’s husband, and his presence introduces one of the film’s most intriguing dynamics. On the surface he appears polite, slightly overwhelmed, and perhaps a bit too agreeable for the chaos surrounding him.
Yet Barry is quietly positioned as one of the story’s more enigmatic figures. The character seems perpetually caught between being the dutiful spouse and a man with secrets of his own. Observant viewers quickly realize that Barry is not merely a passive participant in the family drama. Instead, he becomes a subtle wildcard within the narrative, reacting to the Shickles family circus with expressions that suggest he might be seeing a very different version of events than everyone else.
Douglas brings a layered quality to the role. Barry often appears sympathetic, even slightly beleaguered, but the character carries hints that there is more happening beneath the polite exterior. In a film populated by eccentric personalities, that quiet ambiguity makes Barry particularly memorable.
The Larger Ensemble
The Shickles family world is populated by a wide array of relatives and acquaintances, each adding new shades of comedy and awkwardness to the unfolding drama. Veteran actor Michael Lerner appears as Elroy Shickles, while Teresa Ganzel portrays Ohara Shickles, one of the more colorful extended family members.
JohnPaul Ouvrier steps in as Kevin Shickles, bringing a mix of warmth and unpredictability to the patriarchal role. Meanwhile Brandy McKay appears as Annie, whose connection to Jason adds another emotional layer to the story.
Behind the camera, Trousdale served not only as writer and director but also producer, editor, and casting director. The film was produced by Lynn Elliot, Jason McHugh, and Jesse H. Rivard, with cinematography handled by Michael Boidy and production design by Ren Blanco.
A Comedy About Grief, Secrets, and Surprising Connections
Despite its comic tone, The Shickles ultimately revolves around the complicated ways families process loss. The funeral of Elroy and Nanna Shickles becomes less of an ending and more of a catalyst, exposing tensions, unexpected alliances, and moments of uncomfortable honesty.
What emerges is a portrait of a family that is chaotic, emotional, occasionally ridiculous, and unmistakably human. The Shickles clan may argue loudly, reveal secrets at unfortunate moments, and behave in ways that would terrify most dinner hosts, but the film treats their turmoil with affectionate humor.
Within that swirl of personalities, Barry quietly watches, reacts, and occasionally nudges the story in directions that no one expected. In a household overflowing with noise, he proves that sometimes the most interesting character in the room is the one who appears to be saying the least.
And so the Shickles family saga unfolds with laughter, confusion, and the peculiar realization that families rarely make sense while you are living inside them. They only become truly entertaining once someone turns the whole thing into a movie.
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