Natural Born Killers
dir. Oliver Stone · 1994
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Dark / Tense
Look
hyper-stylized, fragmented imagery with a mix of vibrant colors and stark contrasts
Structure
nonlinear and episodic, blending reality with media representation
Plot
Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.
Why watch
"Natural Born Killers" is a visceral exploration of love and violence, where two lovers become infamous serial killers, reflecting the dark underbelly of media sensationalism. With its frenetic pacing and striking visual style, this film challenges viewers to confront the moral ambiguities of fame and the American psyche.
Cultural context
rise of tabloid journalismcritique of 1990s media cultureexploration of violence in American societypost-Vietnam disillusionment