The Film
Kalifornia has often been compared to another psycho-sexual '90s drama, Natural Born Killers. Fans of both should know those making the comparisons are pretty misguided. OK -- both took viewers on a dark, cross-country rampage and starred Juliette Lewis. That said, the two couldn't be more different.
First and foremost, Kalifornia gives us a nice peek into the early acting skills of Brad Pitt. Years before Fight Club's Tyler Durden, Pitt played Early Grayce, a white trash terror who answers an unsuspecting couple's ride-share offer. That couple is Brian (David Duchovny) and Carrie (the extremely underrated Michelle Forbes), an artsy duo looking to explore famous murder sites. How incredibly convenient to have a complete psycho as your tour guide! His better/beaten-down half Adele (Juliette Lewis) doesn't exactly make the ride any smoother.
The great thing about Kalifornia is that, while it is a super-disturbing movie, it never uses the gore to get your attention. Instead, the urge to watch through the slits of your fingers is created from the thick intensity and sheer discomfort of its characters. All of the actors do a great job, but Pitt drives the movie, as his anti-Sexiest Man Alive just never lets up on the creepy.
The Picture
The film may be dark in nature, but Kalifornia's 2.35:1 transfer is very attractive. Pitt's sunkissed, slightly dirty complexion is a nice contrast over some of the pasty skin of his costars. While some of the dingy bars and motels don't have a lot to look at, the colors are wonderful overall, most notably in the open, outdoor shots. Even Carrie's hair is the perfect black. Speaking of hair, the spikes atop Brian's head show off some of the best detail, especially in tight shots. All of the close-ups offer some of the best imagery in the movie, whether you're looking at worry lines, dirt or raindrops.
The Sound
Much of the DTS-HD Master Audio track hovers around the front speakers, with dialogue being Kalifornia's main component. That is handled nicely, although you'd better listen closely if you want to catch anything Early has to say in that heavy accent. That's not to say that sound doesn't pop up in the surrounds. There's some ambient bar noise, the roar of helicopters, thunder, and even the crack of a wood fence. However, for a movie that does so much to draw you in, the sound just doesn't do as much as it could.
The Extras
Kalifornia offers nothing in the way of special features. The Blu-ray is packaged with a standard-def DVD, which does include unrated and theatrical versions of the movie. However, the Blu-ray has just the unrated version, with the theatrical trailer as its only extra.
Final Thoughts
Kalifornia is an interesting two hours, mainly thanks to its four leads. The extras on this set are a bit of an insult, considering the film's cult nature. That said, a bad Brad Pitt, the thrills without the gore, and a good Blu-ray transfer make this one worth a look.
Product Details
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