In Natural Born Killers the messages are very much made apparent through visual codes such as use of green lighting as a connotation of sickness and jealousy. However, in Badlands Terrance Malick uses more philosophical approach to the hidden meanings of the film. The key themes of Natural Born Killers is that the violence we see on television causes us to become less phased by what we see in real life and are therefor more susceptible to commit or be a victim of violence. Both films use the idea of the 'American Dream' in that everybody wants to be known.
Kit lacks identity, he is constantly trying to be James Dean. Towards the end of the film, Kit strikes James Dean's famous 'crucifix pose' which is one of the common themes - the influence of television upon people. We also are never made aware of Kit's background - he is a rootless character. The idea of rootlessness is highlighted in the scene in which Kit and Holly have sex, Holly mentions that there is a tree whose roots are washing away which is symbolic of the two characters.
There is a very high aspect of true 'Americanism'; when we first see Holly she is wearing blue shorts and a white top and she has red hair - these colours make up the American flag. Having these colours show that Holly has a small amount of the American Dream already come true for her. This is true within the use of that Holly is practising her cheer-leeding skills and he house is surrounded by a white picket fence - these two things are typically American things.
Badlands has an aspect of trying to replicate old Western films. This is made apparent through that when there is a news report there is a sepia filter over the film which is a connotation of the 'Wanted' posters which were found in Westerns.
There is frequent use of the idea of entrapment and freedom. A bird cage is referenced when Kit and Holly are in Kato's house. The bird cage is then seen again when they've set up their living arrangements in the wilderness. Kit physically throws the cage away, indicating that the feeling of being trapped is gone from the couple's lives. The cage indicates that the couple are trapped however when they're at Kato's house it's on the prairie so it indicates freedom. In addiction to this, the wide open areas also indicates that they're isolated from society.
The idea of nature symbolism is uses throughout the film particularly as a reflection upon Holly's character. When She and Kit are on the Prairie she says she feels like a "wild animal". Further on when they are living in the wilderness, wild animals are kept in a cage showing how Holly's character feels trapped. The death of animals are kept frequent throughout the film. The first time we're introduced to Kit, we see him touching a dead dog which foreshadows death in the future. Holly's father kills her dog, Holly throws away a dead fish, Kit leads a cow to its death. The death of an animal usually is a connotation of impending doom.
Kit has a 'sub-idea' of the American Dream and it's that he wants to be somewhere he is above the law. When he is captured, he wears his hat to try to show this to the officers but the officer throws it out of the window. Being that becoming famous is part of the American Dream, Kit and Holly attempt to do this by their killings which will ultimately make them infamous. When in the wilderness, Kit and Holly dance to the song 'The Dream Is Over' which foreshadows that this will come true once they are caught.
In Natural Born Killers the idea that the media is strongly influenced on people's personality is key in this film. Throughout the film there are transitions showing quick shots of adverts and other TV shows so it's as if the audience are flicking through parts of the film just like they would when watching TV. The shots often come quickly in a subliminal fashion, suggesting the media influences its audience in a subliminal way. In the beginning of the film when we see Mickey and Mallory commit their first murders in the diner scene, Mallory's actions are influenced by the music which is being played on the duke box. The song is a song by L7 which were a an all female band who played in an aggressive manner and were very popular in the 90s. We see in the Redcloud scene the projection of 'too much TV' on Mickey and Mallory. Being that Redcloud is the only one not influenced by the media, is able to see how the media have corrupted the characters.
Just like in Badlands, nature is mentioned a lot in the film. Mikey has tattoos of snakes on his arms which are a connotation of Mickey's characters as well as that Mickey and Mallory have rings with snakes on as a symbolism of their 'marriage'. All the animals involved in the film are predators - just like Mickey and Mallory's characters. Any animal which is not a predator is usually seen dead; Mickey refers to himself as a rabbit when he was younger which shows that his child like innocence is now dead.
Natural Born Killers is surreal; A fantasy with some comical elements. Badlands is not, it's more mundane and realistic.
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