Kalifornia

The film was finished in 1991 but did not open until 8 September 1993. In between it drew an NC-17 from the MPAA for violence and sexual content; the rating was appealed and reduced to R. It was Dominic Sena's directing debut. A well-off intellectual couple set out to tour serial-killing sites for a book, and take on a pair of passengers to split the costs. The passenger, Early Grayce, is out on parole, and before they leave he kills and buries his landlord for pestering him about rent. The killer they are chasing is in the back seat. Brad Pitt was not yet a star, and Early remains the filthiest, least likeable thing he has played; what stands out is how little the performance asks to be liked. Juliette Lewis plays his girlfriend Adele, with David Duchovny and Michelle Forbes as the writing couple. Who it is for: viewers who like cold serial-killer road movies in the line of Badlands and Henry. Who it is not for: anyone expecting subtlety about class. The gap between the educated couple and the poor one is drawn in very thick lines.