Kalifornia (1993)

Yuppie journalist Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) and his formidable photographer girlfriend Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes) are headed west on a road trip custom-designed to fulfil Brian’s infatuation with serial killers.

The idea is that they’ll stop at famous slaughter sites where Carrie will take photos, and Brian will soak up the ambience to research an upcoming coffee table book he’s writing.

Low on funds, they advertise a ride share to help with their expenses.

Unfortunately, their respondents are recent parolee Early Grayce (Brad Pitt) and his girlfriend Adele Corners (Juliette Lewis). White trash doesn’t get much trashier than this Kentucky couple whose trailer park bliss is threatened by Early’s parole officer (Judson Vaughn), who wants to get him a janitorial job, and their landlord, who wants to get them out.

Early, who figures no problem in life can’t be solved after contemplating it over a couple of Lucky Lagers, chooses to see these annoyances as opportunities and decides to move to California, where – he tells the infinitely gullible Adele – you can pick fruit off trees, and state law decrees that everyone gets one month rent free.

Since they’re broke, he figures that when the first month is up, they’ll just move somewhere else.

Oh yes, Early has also just murdered his landlord and buried him behind his trailer before torching it . . .

Over the course of the trip, Early and Brian strike up a friendship while Carrie learns of Adele’s tragic life and disturbing relationship with Early, who has also been killing people along the way (he guts a guy in a restroom at their very first gas stop – then stands in the pool of blood and rigorously brushes his teeth).

When a news broadcast alerts the couple to Early’s wanted status, however, the film plunges headlong into a tragic ending.

A violent, unnerving film, Kalifornia teams up two middle-class characters who enjoy the thrill of vicariously observing the darker side of life with a couple living it firsthand.

Brian is initially fascinated by Early – who spouts homespun philosophy like a demented Andy Griffith – but as the dangerous reality of the situation begins to seep into his own life, he becomes horrified.

Meanwhile, with just a little digging Carrie starts to understand the truly awful circumstances of Adele’s life that had brought her to this point.

It’s an interesting dynamic to watch as voyeurs slowly find themselves part of the scene they’re witnessing, eventually realising their romanticised vision of outlaws is the wrong one.

Kalifornia is a sensuously photographed, snappily edited and completely pointless vignette scored to a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack. It’s basically a feature-length video, which isn’t surprising since director Dominic Sena’s previous occupation was making those things for Michael Jackson, Sting and other members of rock royalty.

Early Grayce
Brad Pitt
Adele Corners
Juliette Lewis
Brian Kessler
David Duchovny
Carrie Laughlin
Michelle Forbes
Peter
John Zarchen
Eric
David Rose
Parole Officer
Judson Vaughn
John Diebold
James Michael McDougal
Carol
Patricia Sill
Police Officer
Brett Rice
Little Girl
Marisa Raper
Farmer 
Bill Crabb
Waitress
Mary Ann Hagan
Gas Station Attendant
Jerry G. White
Bar Waitress
Sarah Sullivan
Young Cracker
Eric Stenson
Walter Livesy
Mars Callahan
Newscaster
Patricia Hunte
Mrs Musgrave
Sierra Pecheur
Mr Musgrave
John Dullaghan

Director
Dominic Sena