History Film / NaturalBornKillers

A psychedelic and surrealistic film (one that has been called "The Most Expensive Student Film Ever Made") the film sadly fell victim to MisaimedFandom as some fans actually ended up liking Mickey and Mallory and their ultra-violent killing spree, which was what Stone was condemning. Similarly, quite a few critics failed to see the condemnation of media hype, instead fixating on the perceived glorification of violence. (Ironically enough, Tarantino's original script arguably places more emphasis on the "evil" of the Knoxes--making them less sympathetic.[[note]] Tarantino himself soundly condemned the "sitcom" sequences in the film, apparently for that reason.[[/note]] And those on the "side of the law" are ''not'' the NotSoDifferent types Stone makes them into [[note]] Scagnetti in particular was written by Quentin as more of a KnightInSourArmor who ''eventually'' snaps, as opposed to Stone's crazed Mallory-obsessed "pig"[[/note]]....)

A psychedelic and surrealistic film (one that has been called "The Most Expensive Student Film Ever Made") the film sadly fell victim to MisaimedFandom as some fans actually ended up liking Mickey and Mallory and their ultra-violent killing spree, which was what Stone was condemning. Similarly, quite a few critics failed to see the condemnation of media hype, instead fixating on the perceived glorification of violence. (Ironically enough, Tarantino's original script arguably places more emphasis on the "evil" of the Knoxes--making them less sympathetic.[[note]] Tarantino himself soundly condemned the "sitcom" sequences in the film, apparently for that reason.[[/note]] And those on the "side of the law" are ''not'' the NotSoDifferent types Stone makes them into....)

A psychedelic and surrealistic film (one that has been called "The Most Expensive Student Film Ever Made") the film sadly fell victim to MisaimedFandom as some fans actually ended up liking Mickey and Mallory and their ultra-violent killing spree, which was what Stone was condemning. Similarly, quite a few critics failed to see the condemnation of media hype, instead fixating on the perceived glorification of violence. (Ironically enough, Tarantino's original script arguably places more emphasis on the "evil" of the Knoxes--making them less sympathetic.[[note]] Tarantino himself soundly condemned the "sitcom" sequences in the film, for that reason.[[/note]] And those on the "side of the law" are ''not'' the NotSoDifferent types Stone makes them into....)

A psychedelic and surrealistic film (one that has been called "The Most Expensive Student Film Ever Made") the film sadly fell victim to MisaimedFandom as some fans actually ended up liking Mickey and Mallory and their ultra-violent killing spree, which was what Stone was condemning. Similarly, quite a few critics failed to see the condemnation of media hype, instead fixating on the perceived glorification of violence. (Ironically enough, Tarantino's original script arguably places more emphasis on the "evil" of the Knoxes--making them less sympathetic.[[note: Tarantino himself soundly condemned the "sitcom" sequences in the film, for that reason.]] And those on the "side of the law" are ''not'' the NotSoDifferent types Stone makes them into....)

A psychedelic and surrealistic film (one that has been called "The Most Expensive Student Film Ever Made") the film sadly fell victim to MisaimedFandom as some fans actually ended up liking Mickey and Mallory and their ultra-violent killing spree, which was what Stone was condemning. Similarly, quite a few critics failed to see the condemnation of media hype, instead fixating on the perceived glorification of violence. (Ironically enough, Tarantino's original script arguably places more emphasis on the "evil" of the Knoxes--making them less sympathetic. And those on the "side of the law" are ''not'' the NotSoDifferent types Stone makes them into....)

Considered to be one of the most controversial films of the 1990s, '''''Natural Born Killers''''' is a film by Creator/OliverStone. It derives from a screenplay written by QuentinTarantino (which itself was a rewrite of friend {{Roger Avary}}'s script, The Open Road, elements of which also contributed to {{True Romance}}), who conceived it as a dark exploitation thriller (with elements of satire), but Stone extensively rewrote it to the point where Tarantino [[DisownedAdaptation disowns it as part of his work.]] Stone turned the story into a satire of [[IfItBleedsItLeads the incestuous relationship between crime, the media and pop culture]], and how the latter two glorify the former and turn mass murderers into cult heroes. The film tells the tale of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Creator/JulietteLewis), who captivate the world with a cross-country murder spree. Despite being sadistic and largely unrepentant murderers, the media (led by a tabloid journalist played by Creator/RobertDowneyJr) turns them into pop culture icons.

* AbusiveParents: Mallory's parents, and maybe Mickey's, too.

* AssholeVictim: Mallory's father and Jack Scagnetti.

* FanDisservice: Mallory's armpits.

* FreudianExcuse: Mickey and Mallory both had abusive fathers, with Mallory's dad molesting her and Mickey's dad killing himself in front of his son.

* HollywoodHealing: For someone who has just bitten by a rattle snake, Mickey didn't have a problem engaging in a shootout.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:The two run away and spend their days in an RV, raising their kids and being normal. Oliver Stone was actually aiming for this trope - they're heroic, in a twisted sort of way, because they killed the mass media figure that propagated their doings, the corrupt cop and the warden.]]

* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:In a deleted scene, instead of [[KarmaHoudini running away and raising a family]], Mickey and Mallory are killed by the same serial killer that helped them escape the prison, because [[WordOfGod Stone said]] that the best comeuppance for the two was to be killed by "their own ilk".]]

Considered to be one of the most controversial films of the 1990s, '''''Natural Born Killers''''' is a film by Creator/OliverStone. It derives from a screenplay written by QuentinTarantino, who conceived it as a dark exploitation thriller (with elements of satire), but Stone extensively rewrote it to the point where Tarantino [[DisownedAdaptation disowns it as part of his work.]] Stone turned the story into a satire of [[IfItBleedsItLeads the incestuous relationship between crime, the media and pop culture]], and how the latter two glorify the former and turn mass murderers into cult heroes. The film tells the tale of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Creator/JulietteLewis), who captivate the world with a cross-country murder spree. Despite being sadistic and largely unrepentant murderers, the media (led by a tabloid journalist played by Creator/RobertDowneyJr) turns them into pop culture icons.

Considered to be one of the most controversial films of the 1990s, '''''Natural Born Killers''''' is a film by Creator/OliverStone. It derives from a screenplay written by QuentinTarantino, who conceived it as an exploitation thriller ''with'' substance, but Stone extensively rewrote it to the point where Tarantino [[DisownedAdaptation disowns it as part of his work.]] Stone turned the story into a satire of [[IfItBleedsItLeads the incestuous relationship between crime, the media and pop culture]], and how the latter two glorify the former and turn mass murderers into cult heroes. The film tells the tale of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Creator/JulietteLewis), who captivate the world with a cross-country murder spree. Despite being sadistic and largely unrepentant murderers, the media (led by a tabloid journalist played by Creator/RobertDowneyJr) turns them into pop culture icons.

Considered to be one of the most controversial films of the 1990s, '''''Natural Born Killers''''' is a film by Creator/OliverStone. It derives from a screenplay written by QuentinTarantino, who conceived it as an exploitation thriller, but Stone extensively rewrote it to the point where Tarantino [[DisownedAdaptation disowns it as part of his work.]] Stone turned the story into a satire of [[IfItBleedsItLeads the incestuous relationship between crime, the media and pop culture]], and how the latter two glorify the former and turn mass murderers into cult heroes. The film tells the tale of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Creator/JulietteLewis), who captivate the world with a cross-country murder spree. Despite being sadistic and largely unrepentant murderers, the media (led by a tabloid journalist played by Creator/RobertDowneyJr) turns them into pop culture icons.

A psychedelic and surrealistic film (one that has been called "The Most Expensive Student Film Ever Made") the film sadly fell victim to MisaimedFandom as some fans actually ended up liking Mickey and Mallory and their ultra-violent killing spree, which was what Stone was condemning. Similarly, quite a few critics failed to see the condemnation of media hype, instead fixating on the perceived glorification of violence.

* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: Deconstructed. [[spoiler: The scene showing Mallory's family life is done in the style of a 90's sitcom, complete with canned laughter, exaggerated set design, and sitcom-styled joke script... which informs the viewer that Mallory's father has been raping her for longer than her brother has been alive (because the only reason Kevin was born is because Dad didn't realize he was in his own bedroom and not Mallory's) and her mother doesn't object because he beats her.]]

* FanDisservice: Mallory's armpits.

!!Provides Examples Of:

* FakeNationality: Australian reporter Wayne Gale is played by American RobertDowneyJr

* {{Playing Against Type}}: Rodney Dangerfield as the sexually abusive father.
** This film also kept Woody Harrelson from being typecast as "That idiot from ''{{Cheers}}''," and instead started his current typecasting as [[Film/ThePeopleVsLarryFlynt the]] CrazyPrepared [[Film/{{Zombieland}} insane]] [[TwentyTwelve wingnut]].

* RevivalByCommercialization: This film is pretty much single-handedly responsible for the success of the Cowboy Junkies version of ''[[VelvetUnderground Sweet Jane]]''.

* ThrowItIn: Wayne Gale's Australian accent. RobertDowneyJr. observed and spent time with Steve Dunleavy, an Australian shock-TV host, and returned to filming with the accent. [[TropicThunder Not the last time he would use this accent, by the way.]]

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: As [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18455_5-movies-that-were-one-flaw-away-from-being-classics.html this Cracked article]] points out, had Tarantino directed, using his orignal script, the film would have been a phenomenal success, in the style of ''PulpFiction'' or ''ReservoirDogs'', along with launching his career a few years early.
** Michael Madsen has commented that, had Tarantino retained ownership of the project, he would likely have starred as Mickey.

** Scagnetti had a similar excuse, as his mother was killed by a spree killer.

Considered to be one of the most controversial films of the 1990s, '''''Natural Born Killers''''' is a film by Creator/OliverStone. It derives from a screenplay written by QuentinTarantino, who conceived it as an exploitation thriller, but Stone extensively rewrote it to the point where Tarantino [[DisownedAdaptation disowns it as part of his work.]] Stone turned the story into a satire of [[IfItBleedsItLeads the incestuous relationship between crime, the media and pop culture]], and how the latter two glorify the former and turn mass murderers into cult heroes. The film tells the tale of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (JulietteLewis), who captivate the world with a cross-country murder spree. Despite being sadistic and largely unrepentant murderers, the media (led by a tabloid journalist played by RobertDowneyJr) turns them into pop culture icons.

Considered to be one of the most controversial films of the 1990s, ''Natural Born Killers'' is a film by Creator/OliverStone. It derives from a screenplay written by QuentinTarantino, who conceived it as an exploitation thriller, but Stone extensively rewrote it to the point where Tarantino [[DisownedAdaptation disowns it as part of his work.]] Stone turned the story into a satire of [[IfItBleedsItLeads the incestuous relationship between crime, the media and pop culture]], and how the latter two glorify the former and turn mass murderers into cult heroes. The film tells the tale of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (JulietteLewis), who captivate the world with a cross-country murder spree. Despite being sadistic and largely unrepentant murderers, the media (led by a tabloid journalist played by RobertDowneyJr) turns them into pop culture icons.

* AxCrazy: Two guesses.

* AxCrazy: Guess.

Considered to be one of the most controversial films of the 1990s, ''Natural Born Killers'' is a film by OliverStone. It derives from a screenplay written by QuentinTarantino, who conceived it as an exploitation thriller, but Stone extensively rewrote it to the point where Tarantino [[DisownedAdaptation disowns it as part of his work.]] Stone turned the story into a satire of [[IfItBleedsItLeads the incestuous relationship between crime, the media and pop culture]], and how the latter two glorify the former and turn mass murderers into cult heroes. The film tells the tale of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (JulietteLewis), who captivate the world with a cross-country murder spree. Despite being sadistic and largely unrepentant murderers, the media (led by a tabloid journalist played by RobertDowneyJr) turns them into pop culture icons.

* ChewingTheScenery: Wayne Gale, of course, and Mc Cluskey, with his [[SignatureLaugh "horrific fucking laugh"]]