X
- 1993
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 57 m
- 1993
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 57 m
Summary A graduate student and his girlfriend set out on a cross-country roadtrip to research a book they are writing on serial killers. Along the way, they pick up an ex-con and his girlfriend who will take them on a ride they'll never forget. (MGM)
Directed By: Dominic Sena
Written By: Stephen Levy, Tim Metcalfe
- 1993
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 57 m
- 1993
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 57 m
Kalifornia
49
8.4
Where to Watch
Summary A graduate student and his girlfriend set out on a cross-country roadtrip to research a book they are writing on serial killers. Along the way, they pick up an ex-con and his girlfriend who will take them on a ride they'll never forget. (MGM)
Directed By: Dominic Sena
Written By: Stephen Levy, Tim Metcalfe
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
49
35% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
35% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
29% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
49
35% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
35% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
29% Negative
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
The suspense screws up tighter than a drum-head. The characters remain believable; we have a conflict of personalities, not stereotypes. The action coexists seamlessly with the message.
This kinky game of murder and eroticism is preposterous but never boring.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 135 User Ratings
8.4
83% Positive
112 Ratings
112 Ratings
8% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
9% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 135 User Ratings
8.4
83% Positive
112 Ratings
112 Ratings
8% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
9% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
I totally agree with the review that Roger Ebert gave this movie. He rated the movie 5/5 and I couldn't agree more. Brad Pitt gives a flawless performance as a maniac. He and his girlfriend hook up with two others who
don't realize what kind of a person he is. He has no conscience but he hides his true personality in order to blend in with everyone else. David Duchovny is also in this movie and all of the actors are first rate in the movie. Brad Pitt didn't receive much praise for this movie but this is one of his best roles. A thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.
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Sadly this awesome little serial killer flick never got the release or the attention it deserved. Starring a sexy David Duchovny of X Files, Michelle Forbes, a hunky and psychotic Brad Pitt and a reliably great Juliette Lewis. It centers on a young couple writing a book about serial killers who decides to travel the country visiting famous murder sites and ends up travel sharing with an actual serial killer and his innocent girlfriend. The movie is stylishly made with gorgeous cinematography and a dread induced atmosphere. It all leads up to an unforgettable conclusion that's both intriguing and disturbing. It's a classic that's criminally underseen.
Budget: $8.5M
Box Office: $2.4M
8.75/10
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Kalifornia is disturbing, and, while it doesn't overdo the blood, neither is the violence understated.
It's a promising concept, albeit melodramatic, but what keeps the movie from halfway working is its infernal preciousness. [03 Sep 1993]
Kalifornia, which was written by Tim Metcalfe, lets its stars overact to the rafters as it vacillates between wild pretentiousness and occasional high style.
Not only are none of these characters particularly fun to be with, but the inevitable violence that enters their lives is strong and unpleasant. [03 Sep 1993]
It's like a film-school thesis gone disastrously wrong.
Amoral, surreal and brutal.
This film is a somewhat surreal story about a potential writer who decides to write about real crimes and serial killers. For that, he will visit the crime scenes with his photographer girlfriend and a bizarre couple, who they arranged to share expenses: she looks like the dumbest and most needy creature on the planet and he is stupid, unhygienic and gross.
I think the film is a bit anti-climatic in that everything is quite evident and we get a clear idea of how things are going to go. It is obvious that Brad Pitt's character is going to be a murderer. Despite that, seeing Pitt is one of the biggest attractions here. He showed his talent perfectly, erasing his charm and becoming disgusting, repellent, stupid and so cruel that he impresses us. At her side, Juliette Lewis was fantastic in playing a naive, needy young woman with no education and a past of pain and abuse, but who sincerely loves the only man she thinks has treated her well. David Duchovny and Michelle Forbes bring sophisticated and creative characters to life, very different from their fellow travelers, and the interaction that arises between them, as well as the dual relationship of sympathy and disgust, are an essential part of the entire film. At this point, dialogues are essential.
The film is violent, has many graphic scenes and is not suitable for minors. When deciding on a somewhat amoral approach, where we are the ones who judge about the characters' character and attitudes, the film becomes strange for most people, as we are not used to it. A good photograph, good props and scenes, an interesting play of light and shadow and many dialogues make the film tiring for those who want only action and violence, but interesting for those looking for something more profound and even philosophical.
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Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 3 Nominations
Montréal World Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Thessaloniki Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
