Muder in the Heartland

The story of Charles Starkweather, who went on a two-months killing spree with his under age girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate in December 1957 and January 1958 has been told in several versions, sometimes depicting the actual story and other times merely using the story as inspiration.

This 1993 TV mini series probably stays the closest to the real story. The first part covers the 11 murders committed by Starkweather, who later claimed that Fugate was a willing participant, changing his initial story that she had nothing to do with the murders. Fugate always maintained her innocence, claiming she had been held hostage by Starkweather, who threatened to kill her family (her mother, stepfather and half-sister were among the first victim, Fugate denied knowing they were already dead).

Part two deals with the aftermath - the police investigation, the extradition of Starkweather to be tried in Nebraska rather than Wyoming (both states had the death penalty but he said to prefer the Nebraskan electric chair to Wyoming's gas chamber), the extent of Fugate's involvement in the crimes.

Tim Roth plays Charles Starkweather in his usual brilliant manner and Fairuza Balk is actually surprisingly good in this, as well (she usually plays weirdos rather than the precocious young girl).

Pretty decent TV adaption.

7/10

Film Quote

from Reservoir Dogs

Animals with the Tollkeeper

As far as I can tell, the tollkeeper has nothing to do with the rest of the film whatsoever. The intro film only features a trio of French filmmakers who end up in Henry's (Tim Roth) cab. That happens right after he gets mugged by John Torturro and a young man, who suffers from Down Syndrom.

Anyway, after driving the French people around for a while he ends up in the middle of nowhere all alone. That is when he falls desperately in love with Fatima who initially is not interested in his advances at all.

She lives together with her very strange family. Henry hangs around to be with her and eventually win her love. The woman's younger brother is not at all happy with him being around and attempts to attack him repeatedly - without much success - once by sending in his pigs to attack.

Of course, Henry does win her heart and the two set out to look for paradise, that he has a somewhat blurry vision of. And that is when it gets really weird.

3/10