Kalifornia

For other uses, see Kalifornia (disambiguation).

Kalifornia
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Dominic Sena
Produced by	Jonathan Demme Peter Saraf Edward Saxon
Screenplay by	Stephen Levy Tim Metcalfe
Story by	Tim Metcafle
Starring	Brad Pitt Juliette Lewis David Duchovny Michelle Forbes
Music by	Carter Burwell
Cinematography	Bojan Bazelli
Editing by	Martin Hunter
Studio	PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Propaganda Films Viacom
Distributed by	Gramercy Pictures Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Release date(s)	September 3, 1993 (1993-09-03) (United States)
Running time	117 minutes 118 minutes (Unrated cut)
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$9 million[citation needed]
Box office	$2,395,231

Kalifornia (1993) is an American thriller/road film, directed by Dominic Sena and starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis, David Duchovny, and Michelle Forbes. The film focuses on an aspiring writer (Duchovny) and his photographer girlfriend (Forbes) who are traveling cross-country to research serial killers. To help pay for gas, they take along a man (Pitt) and his childlike girlfriend (Lewis), unaware that the man is a killer.

Plot

Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) is a graduate student in psychology and a journalist, who has written a book about serial killers. His photographer girlfriend Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes) persuades him to move to California; and, when his book project is accepted by a publisher, they decide to drive from Pittsburgh to California and visit infamous murder sites along the way. Short on funds, Brian posts a ride-share ad.

Meanwhile, parolee Early Grayce (Brad Pitt) has just lost his job. His parole officer (Judson Vaughn) learns of this and comes to the trailer park where Early lives with his young girlfriend Adele Corners (Juliette Lewis). Early refuses the officer's offer of a job as a college janitor, saying he wants to leave the state. The officer informs him that, if he doesn't keep the appointment, he will be returned to prison. Early decides to go to the job interview; and, when he's on his way out, he is confronted by the landlord over non-payment of rent. Early grows violent and spins out in his car, chasing the man all over the park.

Early spies the ride-share ad at the college and calls Brian, who agrees to meet him the following day. Early sends Adele ahead and, as revealed later, murders the landlord before joining Adele to wait for Brian and Carrie. Carrie's first response to seeing the rough-hewn couple is to suggest Brian turn the car around and leave, but Brian asks her to give the plan a chance, and she reluctantly agrees.

On the road, unbeknownst to his companions, Early murders a man in a gas station bathroom and steals his money. When they arrive at the first hotel, he cuts Adele's hair to match Carrie's. At another hotel, Early invites Brian out to play pool, leaving Adele and Carrie alone together. Adele reveals to Carrie that she is a rape victim and that she views Early as her protector, even though her mother did not approve because Early had just been released from prison. Carrie is alarmed by Brian's growing fascination with Early and nonchalant response to the news that Early has been in prison. She gives him an ultimatum; either they rid themselves of Early and Adele, or she will leave.

At the next gas station, Carrie glimpses a newscast with footage of Early and the announcement he is a suspected murderer. Early kills the gas station attendant and continues the trip with the couple as hostages. They encounter two police officers, whom Early shoots. Early orders Brian to finish off one of the wounded officers, but Brian refuses. They next come to the home of an elderly couple. Early beats the man to death, but Adele allows the woman to flee. As Early rushes to find the woman, Adele confronts him and says she wants nothing more to do with him. Early shoots Adele, strikes Brian on the head, and kidnaps Carrie.

Brian regains consciousness, and the elderly woman gives him the keys to her truck. Brian arrives at an abandoned nuclear testing site and surprises Early, hitting him in the head with a shovel. Brian finds Carrie bloodied and handcuffed to a bed. Early, who was only stunned, attacks Brian and they struggle until Carrie hits Early in the head. When Early continues the attack, Brian shoots him in the abdomen. Early is not mortally wounded, Brian realizes this and shoots him again, killing him.

The film ends with Brian and Carrie in a California beach house. She tells him that a gallery is interested in her art, and he suggests they go out to celebrate. He leaves his tape player on; and Adele's voice is heard, talking about how good Carrie and Brian were to her and Early, and how much their friendship means to her.

Cast

• Brad Pitt as Early Grayce
• Juliette Lewis as Adele Corners
• David Duchovny as Brian Kessler
• Michelle Forbes as Carrie Laughlin

Reception

Kalifornia received mixed to positive reviews; it currently holds a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a box office bomb, only grossing $2,395,231 based on a supposed $9 million budget.

External links

• Kalifornia at the Internet Movie Database
• Kalifornia at AllRovi
• Kalifornia at Box Office Mojo
• Kalifornia at Rotten Tomatoes