Murder in the Heartland (TV 1993)A wanna-be tough guy and his 14-year-old girlfriend go on a murder spree. Director:Robert MarkowitzWriter:Michael O'Hara |
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Murder in the Heartland (TV 1993)A wanna-be tough guy and his 14-year-old girlfriend go on a murder spree. Director:Robert MarkowitzWriter:Michael O'Hara |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Tim Roth | ... | ||
| Fairuza Balk | ... | ||
| Kate Reid | ... |
Pansy Street
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| Brian Dennehy | ... |
John McArthur
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| Randy Quaid | ... |
Elmer Scheele
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| Roberts Blossom | ... |
Gus Meyer
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| Tom Bower | ... |
Marion Bartlett
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| Rondi Reed | ... |
Jonette Fox
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| Bob Gunton | ... |
Governor Anderson
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| Ryan Cutrona | ... |
C. Lauer Ward
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| Angie Bolling | ... |
Clara Ward
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Jake Carpenter | ... |
Robert Jensen
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| Heather Kafka | ... |
Carol King
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Don Bloomfield | ... | |
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John Hussey | ... |
Mr. Jensen
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A wanna-be tough guy and his 14-year-old girlfriend go on a murder spree.
It is a real shame this film is not available on home video, as I found it to be extremely well done and memorable. It is based on the notorious Charles Starkweather murder spree of the 1950s, and as a (more or less) true story, it automatically carries a certain level of fascination for afficionados of classic crime cases.
But this one has much more. It gives the viewer a sense of the complexities of the people involved. Starkweather's jailbait girlfriend, Caril Fugate (Fairuza Balk) comes across as oddly pathetic, the product a wretched home life. As such, she is credible and intriguing. She is docile and submissive but stubborn, as well. While not quite likeable, the viewer can feel some empathy toward her.
Starkweather, on the other hand, is a study in absolute amorality. His purposeless life unravels into madness on screen, with Fugate following, sometimes willingly sometimes out of fear or compulsion.
This is an intelligent film. Much is left to the imagination of the audience. It is a long movie, but absorbing. I recommend it highly.