gkjranch Review of Kalifornia

Kalifornia (1993)

Seeing This 25 Year Old Film For The 1st Time Thru 2018 Eyes

[7/10 · 27 December 2018]

The way it began, I didn't expect much. Actually, I didn't expect to remain awake but within the 1st 15 minutes or so I was drawn in. I like the narration as it served to solidify the story line. David Duchovny's character was so very naive for someone writing a book about serial killers but I kind of fit for someone who has lived thus far insulated by position and college from the ugly side of life. He had yet to develop that second sense to alert a person to danger and the ability to detect when thing are just "not quite right". His girlfriend, however, sported an edgier persona highlighted by her appearance & her photographic works. She correctly sensed that there was something disturbing about their traveling companions but was persuaded by naive Duchovny that Pitt's character was harmless even as 1 red flag after another appeared. One small detail. which was a big deal to me, was Early calling Brian "Bri" which would express comfort & familiarity rather than someone you just recently met and don't know at all. But serial killers are often cunning and manipulative and Brian should have known this. The first killing in the gas station bothered me since Early could not have committed such a violent knife attack while remaining relatively clean. I think he could have committed the murder in a more believable fashion without sacrificing the horror of it all. The suspense still manages to ramp up with each now predictable murder. Really, one of the most chilling scenes is when Carrie sees, thru the lens of her camera, Early & Adele having sex in the car. Early sees her watching and the eye exchange between the two riveting. If you weren't sure before that Early is a psychopath rather than committing crimes of opportunity, it is now apparent. Though Adele's child-like character, up until now, has been softening the horror that the viewer knows about Early, it can no longer do so. She might be a little girl in an adult body but even little girls can connect the dots at some point. Although she does so later, it is too late for her. Typical of most films, the display of violence is somewhat over the top or is it really? I was asking myself at the end of the film, did this really happen or did Brian create a work of fiction rather than a study of serial killers. I didn't expect to like this film but actually found it quite compelling.