MJB SCRIPT REVIEW | NATURAL BORN KILLERS
- michaelbrand01
- Dec 12, 2023
- 2 min read
YES! Been looking forward to this weeks script; NATURAL BORN KILLERS.
Plot in a nutshell: We follow the media frenzy worship of Mickey and Mallory Knox, two of Americas most renowned serial killers, their killing spree, subsequent incarceration and finally, escape.
One of Tarantino’s scripts that he didn’t helm (Oliver Stone took lead duties on this beauty and seriously went for it), sold and consequently disowned, this film came with a level of hype/controversy rarely seen these days. I remember the films release (or rather lack of) in 1994 and the first time I got to see it was off a friends bootlegged VHS (not bad quality either, mind). Critics raved about everything from glorifying violence to inciting further violence and a complete lack of respect for general society. So a cracking film then!
The script version I read (final shooting script) however is broken down into three different stages; Mickey and Mallorys short, but unforgettable and beautifully paced intro, the media circus that surrounds their transfer to an insane asylum, combined with an elongated episode of a serial killer TV show special following the Mallorys, and finally, the prison escape of the despicable duo.
At no time does this script let up. You can feel Tarantino's voice in the characters and the story (as you can feel the edits from other writers) and it pelts along full force, just like the gory media shows it emulates (the audience is never allowed to be bored!). The language is gripping and just like the media circus, you are both fixated and horrified by the events that unfurl. A particularly haunting piece of writing has Mickey cross examine a witness at his own trial, choosing to tease the poor girl about how easily he killed her brother. And then kills the poor girl in front of the court. Not for the faint of heart this script and ballsy writing to say the least. I could wax lyrical on this puppy all day, but let’s get to the juice.
So what did I learn from NATURAL BORN KILLERS?
How to write an episode of a TV show into a film script, as part of the plot continuation. We’ve all seen episodes of those shows with cops chasing criminals, discussing to the camera how and why law must be maintained. Or one of Louis Theroux's documented interview style pieces. But this episode gives us Mickey and Mallorys history, brings us up to speed on everything from their victims to the court hearing and internment and does it all with flash, pace, style and best of all, believability. It was fascinating to behold and as such, a perfect example of how to use this technique. Brilliant tool and exciting to realise.
As a small side note, another script that neither uses characters ages or descriptions when introducing them. I’ve seen this a couple of times now and I have to admit, I like the freedom it creates in casting opportunities. Will bear it in mind for future reference…
Link to the script;
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