Kalifornia (1993)

So, this isn’t an out and out horror film, it’s definitely more of a psychological thriller. One thing I’ve noticed about a lot of 90’s horror is that a lot of it leans more towards being thriller-y. Despite that, it’s pretty horrific and all kinds of awesome. Brad Pitt gives an outstanding performance that he doesn’t get nearly enough recognition for, and the story is incredibly gripping, despite dragging a bit at times.

This movie follows a grad student (Brian) and his girlfriend (Carrie), played by David Duchovney and Michelle Forbes, who are looking for some carpool buddies to go on a road trip to California. The catch is, on the road trip they’re going to be stopping at the sides of serial murders for a book Brian is writing. Enter Early and Adele, played by Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis. They’re a poor couple looking to get a fresh start, leaving behind Early’s violent past. At first, their demographics don’t mesh: a redneck couple and some artsy grad students don’t have all that much in common, but they begin to connect as they travel together. However, as they travel, Early continues to unravel, becoming more and more violent and unstable.

As I said before, Brad Pitt gives an unbelievably brutal and convincing performance. He plays a man exploring and ultimately giving into his underlying nature perfectly. Juliette Lewis also gives a strong performance as the innocent and childlike Adele, a girl who just wants to be loved, even if it is by a sometimes abusive man. Duchovney and Forbes do fine enough, but compared to Lewis and Pitt leave something to be desired. One of the big weaknesses is that certain scenes tend to drag. The movie comes in just under 2 hours and I think easily could have been equally, if not more, effective at 100 minutes. There’s no one specific part I feel should have been cut either, more that if they just snipped a minute or two off each scene it would have been perfect.

I feel like this film is often overlooked and doesn’t get the recognition that it should. Despite its flaws, I think Kalifornia is definitely worth watching. The performances are memorable, the story is strong, and the violence is chilling.

Netflix available? No

Hulu available? No

Xfinity available? Yes, for a fee

Rating: 4/5

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, is a vampire flick that gets certain aspects right, but others pretty wrong, making for an eerie, if not convoluted horror picture. I really enjoy the things this film gets right, such as its portrayal of mental illness, but the way it winds and muddles the story is hard to forgive.

This film follows Jessica, a woman who was recently released from a psychiatric hospital and her husband. Hoping to get a fresh start, they buy a house in rural Connecticut, that is rumored to be home to a female vampire that preys upon the men in the town. She and her husband become host to another couple, who seem fine… at first. As Jessica begins to experience unusual occurrences, she wonders if she is relapsing into insanity, or if it could perhaps be real.

So, what this film gets right: Jessica, portrayed by Zohra Lampert, gives a uniquely understated portrayal of mental illness, especially for the 1970’s. As someone who works in the mental health field, I can definitely say that horror is not kind to the mentally ill. They’re often portrayed as raving lunatics, violent, or evil. Jessica is a sympathetic character. She is trying to recover and leave her past behind, but as someone who has previously struggled with hallucinations and delusions, she is constantly afraid that her reality is not what it seems. I love how Lampert plays a woman who is afraid of being re-hospitalized, but also afraid of relapsing and avoiding the help she needs. She’s a normal person, struggling with trusting herself vs trusting those around her.

What this film gets wrong is basically everything else. The other characters are bland and unremarkable, the story is unclear and drags throughout most of the film. Director, John Hancock, does a good job building suspense, but it never peaks or really amounts to anything. The reality of Jessica’s situation is never revealed or made clear, the film has a dream-like quality that almost alludes to everything being in Jessica’s head, but it also frequently gives the impression that her experiences are real. While there can be some spookiness is the unknown, it’s hard to tell if the confusion is intentional or just the product of poor storytelling.

I think there is value in this film, in its (comparatively) accurate portrayal of certain mental illnesses, but it can definitely lagging at times and seems long despite its 89 minute run time. I would recommend checking it out, just knowing that you’re not in for a masterpiece.

Netflix available? DVD only

Hulu available? No

Xfinity available? Yes, for a fee

Rating: 2.75/5