Natural Born Killers Essay - 1827 Words

Oliver Stone’s 1994 classic, Natural Born Killers, excited and traumatized its audiences while also causing controversy. The tale of white trash lovers caught up in a realm of chaos that includes a continuous murderous rampage from state to state, draws in audiences with its graphic violence and riveting pulse inducing music. Yet, the message of this film seems to be much deeper than just exposing audiences to yet another chaotic action movie filled with guns, blood and mayhem. Stone’s Natural Born Killers examines the subject of media’s investment in serial murder very thoroughly, and so it seems likely that it has the potential to offer a more rigorous interrogation of the nature of the American public’s fascination with the serial†¦show more content†¦The film is so surreal, disorienting, and consistently disturbing that the viewer, mortified by the wild, intoxicating spectacle it reveals to him, is left feeling like a drunk who, having committ ed some terrible deed, realizes what he has done only when he subsequently looks in dismay at the grisly effects of his actions (Sweeney 156). Not only is Natural Born Killers is a uniquely-directed feature, because of the wide-range of camera angles, filters, lenses and special effects used during its production but it also films much of the film in what seems to be told from a television-perspective. The varied aspects of the film that are done in this â€Å"television-perspective† or â€Å"media vision† bring out the grittiness of the plot. Often time scenes are either in black and white or in what sometimes resembles Technicolor. It makes the audience feel as though they are either watching a documentary or the news for that matter. Some scenes in Natural Born Killers are satirical of television shows of the time, including a serious-scene which is told in the farce of a situational comedy about a dysfunctional-family. These scenes in Natural Born Killers display the often talked about elements of what makes a serial killer. For instance, studies have shown that serial killers are often the products of bad childhoods. They are either mentally or physically abused, outsiders socially and presumably murder or mameShow MoreRelated Pointless Violence in the Movie (Film), Natural Born Killers566 Words   |  3 PagesPointless Violence in the Movie (Film), Natural Born Killers Daily, the public is bombarded with violence, not only on television, but also in other media, such as newspapers and tabloids. Natural Born Killers, a prime example of violence in the media, is a movie about two lovers, Mickey and Mallory Knox, who go on a killing spree across the Southwest. The movie takes a satirical look at how the media romanticizes violent crimes. Natural Born Killers has sparked a lot of controversy, as seenRead MoreNatural Born Killers And The Film Stars Woody Harrelson And Juliette Lewis1636 Words   |  7 PagesFor my film project I chose, Natural Born Killers, (1994) the film stars Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis as the notorious couple Mickey and Mallory Knox. The film follows Knox’s on their cross-country murder spree that captivates the world as the media glorifies their crimes making them the most infamous serial killers since Manson. Natural Born Killers starts out in a small diner in the middle of the desert, Mickey is ordering pie and Mallory is dancing to a jukebox, a couple of locals enterRead MoreNatural Born Killers Essay1372 Words   |  6 PagesDiego Stehle Audio-visual Language Module 1: Assigment essay August 19/2008 Natural Born Killers Mallory Knox (Juliette Lewis) is an abused teenage daughter from an awful family. She meets Mickey Knox (Woody Harrelson), a butcher ´s son, when he delivers fifty pounds of beef to her house; love is instant and inevitable. Mallory ´s father did not approve their relationship and sends Mickey to jail. After escaping, Mickey goes to save Mallory from her parents by killing them and this is howRead MoreAnalysis of Natural Born Killers Essay989 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of Natural Born Killers Natural born killers is a violent film with a twist. It provides humor and violence and cartoons in parts of the film. I think that Natural born killers is a bad film because a lot of the time you don’t know what is going on and it is a film that you have to watch without any distractions, also it makes out that violence is funny by using cartoons and other surrealistic parts. The film is also bad because it can influence dominant andRead MoreThe Influence of Exposure to Violence627 Words   |  3 Pageslike Bok have provoked thought over the negative effects of the media’s relentless coverage of violence. In a film written by Quentin Tarantino titled Natural Born Killers, Tarantino portrays the role of the media, which in turn delivers the very effects of violent exposure that Bok is critical of. Though ironic, Tarantino’s Natural Born Killer aims to elicit thought, as to serve as a mirror to the current culture of media and violence. The film portrays violence found in media and its glamorizationRead Moreâ€Å"You Can’t Hide from Your Shadow† - Should Natural Born Killers Be Banned?1604 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"You Can’t Hide From Your Shadow† Should Natural Born Killers be Banned? In 1994 a film was released that sent religious groups, politicians and the sensationalist media into a fever; Natural Born Killers was â€Å"a bold new film that takes a look at a country seduced by fame, obsessed by crime and consumed by the media.† through the tale of two young murderers. In the years that followed the film was blamed for scores of tragedies in America, including but not limited to the case of a boy whoRead More Horror Movies Essay660 Words   |  3 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å"Natural Born Killers,† â€Å" Psycho,† â€Å" Friday the 13th ,† and â€Å"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow† are all horror films. In these films there is always some crazy person or monster-like character that goes around and slaughters innocent people. And usually, but not all the time the killer is killed at the end of the movie. The media publishes or broadcasts stories that say that horror films influence people to imitate these wrongful acts of violence. I believe that theseRead MoreLE300J Final Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesLE300J Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Professor Donna Strong Park University Throughout time many have had a fascination with serial killers and with help from the media they have become celebrities within our culture. There are many books, movies, television shows, and news coverage to introduce viewers to their lives. With all the interest behind serial killers, many wonder how they come to be this violent. The question is often asked, are serial killers born or made? Read MoreThe Similarity of Bollywood Films to High Concept American Films1097 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Titanic†, â€Å"Home Alone† and â€Å"Star wars.† Most blockbuster films are high concept and have A list actors. In the well known film, â€Å"Natural Born Killers†, there are actors of which we are familiar with (Tommy Lee Jones and Woody Howard) this attracts the audience to the film if they know what to expect from the actors. Natural Born Killers has been distributed worldwide and sold a huge number of copies everywhere especially America, unlike the Bollywood film, â€Å"ArmaanRead MoreEssay Are Serial Killers Born or Made?1560 Words   |  7 PagesEvidence that was gathered from books such as â€Å"Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers† and â€Å"Inside the Minds of Serial Killers,† both written by Kathertine Ramsland, provide information and evidence that killers are in fact made, not born. Some of the reasons that people believe that killers are made and not born are due to research by many psychiatrists on serial killers and mass murderers who are on death roe that have committed some of the most heinous crimes. One argument is that there is a set of