Saw this and it showed that we may never know the involvement of Caril Ann Fugate, who was 14 at the time. And was sent to life imprisonment until her model behavior got her thirty to fifty years with parole. Which she got in 1976 after serving eighteen years. She has never talked about the case publicly due to her proclaiming her innocence. And that is something she will carry to the grave even.
Only she, Charlie Starkweather, and God knew what happened and how she was really involved. That is the question. For those ten murders. Charlie did one murder of the gas attendant alone before the crime spree haunted Nebraska and shocked the nation.
Fairuza Balk plays a naive but misunderstood Caril Ann. She really tries to prove that Caril Ann is innocent. Though Starkweather and others say otherwise. You forget it is Balk the actress and she brings Caril Ann to life really well. Yet so tragic and sad. But when Starkweather tells his side of the story at her trial, he portrays Caril Ann as cold and ruthless. Balk plays good at that too.
Tim Roth, who was in his early thirties in the time. Played 19-year old Starkweather. But despite the age difference, he was way too convincing as Starkweather. He was sadistic and cold as you can get. But also Starkweather was dumb as a rock.(Changing his story seven times after he and Caril get busted for the murders.)And couldn't keep a job it seems. So the only way to earn a living, was to turn to crime.
Brian Dennehy is smart and no-nonsense as Caril Ann defense attorney. And seems to care about her. Randy Quaid is the prosecutor determined to put both Roth and Balk's characters in the electric chair, despite Fugate's young age. Quaid also comes off sympathetic, comforting families of a couple of the victims.
One thing, if you have a sick stomach. Then you may want to turn away at the end of the movie. As it is really gruesome. Won't spoil the ending but it is a very, very gruesome scene in the end. But it's really believable.
Only she, Charlie Starkweather, and God knew what happened and how she was really involved. That is the question. For those ten murders. Charlie did one murder of the gas attendant alone before the crime spree haunted Nebraska and shocked the nation.
Fairuza Balk plays a naive but misunderstood Caril Ann. She really tries to prove that Caril Ann is innocent. Though Starkweather and others say otherwise. You forget it is Balk the actress and she brings Caril Ann to life really well. Yet so tragic and sad. But when Starkweather tells his side of the story at her trial, he portrays Caril Ann as cold and ruthless. Balk plays good at that too.
Tim Roth, who was in his early thirties in the time. Played 19-year old Starkweather. But despite the age difference, he was way too convincing as Starkweather. He was sadistic and cold as you can get. But also Starkweather was dumb as a rock.(Changing his story seven times after he and Caril get busted for the murders.)And couldn't keep a job it seems. So the only way to earn a living, was to turn to crime.
Brian Dennehy is smart and no-nonsense as Caril Ann defense attorney. And seems to care about her. Randy Quaid is the prosecutor determined to put both Roth and Balk's characters in the electric chair, despite Fugate's young age. Quaid also comes off sympathetic, comforting families of a couple of the victims.
One thing, if you have a sick stomach. Then you may want to turn away at the end of the movie. As it is really gruesome. Won't spoil the ending but it is a very, very gruesome scene in the end. But it's really believable.