Natural Born Killers - R
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that NATURAL BORN KILLERS is an aggressive film that features a serial killer couple who kills indiscriminately. Violence is used liberally throughout the film in the form of graphic murder, beatings, and torture -- mostly perpetrated by the couple on their unsuspecting victims. Sex is shown and discussed, and is hardly ever in a loving form. A scene features a father making unwanted sexual advances towards his daughter. Another features a murder that begins with a man performing oral sex on a woman while on a car hood. Language is unrestrained and used quite violently intoned .
Families who see this film may want to discuss its message. The film was intended to criticize the media for glorifying violence. Is it successful? Would you have gone about it differently?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: David Gurney
A cultural flashpoint at the time of its release, NATURAL BORN KILLERS is as shocking now as it was in 1995. The ambitious film tracks the rise to stardom of a serial killing couple, Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis), as they blaze a trail of destruction across the U.S. and are eventually captured and jailed. The chaotic and stylistically schizophrenic nature of the movie is quite barbed in its attack against the media, mostly television news. With that said, the real stars of the film aren't Mickey and Mallory, but rather, the many aspects of the news and entertainment media that are regurgitated and lampooned throughout the film.
With the focus of the film being on the media reaction to Mickey and Mallory's crimes, the plot mechanics don't really demand much viewer attention. In a sense, the most important single character is Wayne Gale (Robert Downey, Jr.), an overzealous TV reporter caught up in the frenzy of pursuing the couple. His obliviousness to the effects of his news reports on an increasingly sadistic audience acts as a model for the media machine Stone criticizes. Ultimately, this film is a satire with no soft edges or rays of hope. To those unwilling to see the film as a criticism of media violence, may misinterpret it as an exaggerated celebration of the violent main characters. As such, this is a film that will only satisfy those already inclined towards negative views of the media, and only the most open-minded of those folks at that.
This film is not for kids. Parents should note that an unrated director's cut is available on DVD with even more graphic violence and sexual situations added to the originally released version. For more PG-friendly critiques of the media, families may want to check out Wag the Dog and The Truman Show.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA father makes unwanted sexual advances towards his daughter. A man performs oral sex on a woman while on a car hood. |
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ViolenceConstant and vivid depictions of graphic murders, torture. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoUse of and scenes depicting the effects of many drugs. |
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