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Kalifornia
A journalist duo go on a tour of serial killer murder sites with two companions, unaware that one of them is a serial killer himself.
1993 · Directed by Dominic Sena · 118 min · Thriller · Crime · Screenplay in the scene database · 6 frames
Tagline
Fear never travels alone.
Plot
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brian Kessler is a graduate student and journalist whose article about serial killers has gotten him an offer for a book deal. He and his girlfriend Carrie Laughlin, an avant garde photographer, decide to relocate to California in hopes of enriching their careers. The two plot their journey from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles, planning to visit infamous murder sites along the way that Carrie can photograph for Brian's book. Short on funds, Brian posts a ride-share ad on the university campus.
Meanwhile in Louisville, Kentucky, psychopathic parolee Early Grayce has lost his job at a mirror factory. His parole officer learns of this and comes to the trailer park where Early lives with his naïve girlfriend Adele Corners. Early refuses the officer's offer of a job as a janitor at the university, saying he wants to leave the state, but the officer pressures him into keeping his appointment for the job interview. When Early arrives at the campus, he sees the ride-share ad and calls Brian, who agrees to meet him the following day. Early sends Adele ahead, then murders his landlord and sets his trailer on fire. Carrie is reluctant about riding with the couple given their rough appearance, but Brian encourages her to give them a chance. On the road, unbeknown to his companions, Early murders a man in a gas-station bathroom and steals his money.
At a hotel, Early invites Brian out to play pool, leaving Adele and Carrie alone together. Adele explains that her mother did not approve of her relationship because Early had just been released from prison. She reveals to Carrie that she suffered a gang rape and views Early as her protector, even though he sometimes "punishes" her. While the women drink beer, Adele admits that Early forbids her to smoke or drink. Meanwhile, at a bar, Early assaults a man who confronts Brian. Later during the road-trip, he introduces Brian to pistol shooting in a remote location.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Stephen Levy, Tim Metcalfe
- Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
- Edited by: Martin Hunter
- Music: Carter Burwell
- Production design: Michael White
- Produced by: Sigurjón Sighvatsson, Aristides McGarry, Steve Golin
Cast
- Brad Pitt as Early Grayce
- David Duchovny as Brian Kessler
- Juliette Lewis as Adele Corners
- Michelle Forbes as Carrie Laughlin
- Sierra Pecheur as Mrs. Musgrave
- John Dullaghan as Mr. Musgrave
- Kathy Larson as Teenage Girl
- David Milford as Driver
- Judson Vaughn as Parole Officer
- John Zarchen as Peter
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Propaganda Films, Kouf/Bigelow Productions, Viacom Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
- Budget: $9,000,000
- Box office: $2,395,231
- Themes: journalist, california, trailer park, photographer, gas station, kidnapping, psychopath, journalism, motel, highway
More by Dominic Sena
On this film
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