10 Crime Films Based On Real Events
8. Badlands Is Loosely Based On The Journey Of Mass Murderer Charles Starkweather
Another 1970s neo-noir, Badlands is one of a handful of perfect Terrence Malick films. Voted as the 4th best crime film of all time by The Guardian, the film tells the story of young adult Kit (Martin Sheen) fleeing across the country to begin a killing spree with his young girlfriend Holly (Sissy Spacek) in tow.
Kit is based on Charles Starkweather, a James Dean wannabe who similarly ventured across the country murdering for fun. On his journey he'd kill anyone in his path, from those who wanted to help him, to the people unfortunate enough to pass him in earnest. Eventually Starkweather was apprehended and pleaded innocent due to insanity but was sentenced to the electric chair in 1959.
Badlands plays with what we see and hear, allowing us to find meaning in the gaps. It can be mystic, idyllic and bleak to equal measure. It’s a road movie embedded in nature and the spiritual predecessor to Tarantino and Tony Scott’s True Romance. Terrence Malick pulling off a film as unforgettable as this on his debut is one of the many reasons why he is one of the greatest creatives to ever make cinema.