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Movie spotlight

Kill Your Babies

2023
Movie
41 min
English

Kill Your Babies follows Dorian, a true crime fanatic, as she attempts to write the perfect crime and soon finds she is caught up in one herself.

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes72%
Metacritic66/100
Google Users79%
Director: Rupert GooldGenres: Biography, Crime, Drama, Romance, History

Plot Summary

In the 1940s, a young Allen Ginsberg arrives at Columbia University and is drawn into a rebellious circle of friends including the charismatic Lucien Carr, the determined David Kammerer, and the witty William S. Burroughs. Their bohemian lifestyle and intellectual pursuits clash with the conservative norms of the time, leading to a series of events that culminate in murder. This film explores the intense friendships, artistic awakenings, and tragic consequences that shaped the Beat Generation.

Critical Reception

Kill Your Darlings was met with generally positive reviews, with critics praising its strong performances, stylish direction, and compelling portrayal of the formative years of the Beat Generation. The film was particularly lauded for its handling of complex relationships and its depiction of the era's burgeoning counterculture. While some found the narrative occasionally uneven, the overall consensus was that it offered an insightful and engaging look into the lives of these influential literary figures.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Daniel Radcliffe's transformative performance as a young Allen Ginsberg.

  • Lauded for its stylish direction and evocative depiction of 1940s bohemian New York.

  • Noted for exploring the intense and often volatile relationships that defined the early Beat Generation.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's exploration of literary history and the complex relationships between the characters. Many found the performances compelling and the storytelling engaging, though some wished for a more streamlined narrative. The film's historical context and the portrayal of rebellion resonated well with audiences.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true events surrounding the murder of David Kammerer by Lucien Carr in 1944, a crime that deeply affected the lives of Ginsberg, Burroughs, and Kerouac, and is often considered a catalyst for the Beat Generation.

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