Cast: Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, Michelle Forbes
Director: Dominic Sena
Producers: Steve Golin, Aris McGarry, and Joni Sighvatasson
Screenplay: Tim Metcalfe
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
Music: Carter Burwell
U.S. Distributor: Gramercy Films
There seem to be two ways in which films typically handle serial killer storylines. Either they create messy exploitation flicks with lots of blood and gore, little plot, and even less characterization (the Friday the 13th series, for example); or they give a blunt, hard- hitting view of the subject (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Man Bites Dog). As with any generalization, there are exceptions, but probably no more than I can count on my fingers. Curiously enough, the latest mass murderer motion picture, called Kalifornia, falls somewhere in between the two extremes, and may end up leaving viewers from both camps dissatisfied.
In the name of research for a book he's writing on serial killers, Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) decides to take his girlfriend, Carrie (Michelle Forbes), on a cross-country car trip with stop-offs at famous murder locations. Hoping to find someone to split the costs with (his car gets only eight miles per gallon), Brian advertises on a local college bulletin board. Only one couple answers the ad: Early Grayce (Brad Pitt) and Adele Corners (Juliette Lewis). They look flat broke, but Brian still invites them to get in the car, hoping they can come up with the cash. During the first stages of the journey, Brian gets along with the newcomers, but Carrie is wary, and for good reason -- Early is a murderer, and, as the distance to California lessens, the body count piles up.
If you can get beyond the huge coincidence that sets up this motion picture, you're in for a chilling ride. Sure, it's a little hard to swallow that a guy writing a book about serial killers should happen to have one in his car, but this is one of only a few instances where an obvious plot device is used.
This is no Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. However, while the impact is far less wrenching, there are some similarities. Like Henry, Kalifornia doesn't glamorize its killings, opting more for the visceral than the grotesque. There's also quite a bit of intellectual speculation about what motivates serial killers. While some of that is out-of-place, it keeps the audience constantly questioning why Early sometimes reacts as he does.
Of the four principal actors, Brad Pitt gives the least impressive performance, probably because of the nature of his character. Early is all rage and self-righteousness, and there are times when he slips into a caricature mode. Juliette Lewis is a little better, but great range isn't required for Adele, either. She's pretty much a simpleminded young woman who refuses to believe the awful truth about her boyfriend. She shows all the classic symptoms of a victim, some of which are displayed a little too obviously.
David Duchovny and Michelle Forbes give the strongest performances, and since they're the ones we're supposed to identify with, the realism invested in Brian and Carrie adds some depth to Kalifornia. These two are fascinated by killers, but that fascination quickly turns to horror when they realize who's in the back seat.
Kalifornia is disturbing, and, while it doesn't overdo the blood, neither is the violence understated. The basic premise should be enough to keep the meek away -- if you have no desire to see a film that follows a serial killer, stay away from Kalifornia. However, those with more macabre tastes will find that this picture packs a little more punch than the traditional Hollywood slasher flick.
© 1993 James Berardinelli