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Creation background
In 1994, American director Oliver Stone directed a controversial film, Born to Kill.
The film is based on real events and tells the story of a young man named Mitch, who is deeply influenced by the social environment and the media and gradually becomes a cold-blooded murderer.
The background of the work can be traced back to the American social atmosphere in the late 80s and early 90s of the 20th century, when the United States experienced a series of social problems and violent events, such as the Asian financial crisis, Los Angeles riots, school shootings, etc.
These events attracted widespread media attention and public controversy, culminating in social concerns and discussions on the issue of violence.
Oliver Stone, a director known for directing socially critical films, attempts to delve into the relationship between violence and social issues by dissecting the story of the protagonist Mitch in Born Murderer.
Through this film, he hopes to stimulate the audience's thinking about the phenomenon of social violence, and also show the influence of the media on individual psychology and behavior.
In order to better show the complexity of the story, Stone adopted a non-linear narrative structure, showing the psychological change process of Mitch's gradual degeneration from an ordinary youth to a murderer through flashbacks and sequential transformations.
This narrative technique allows the audience to understand the inner world of the protagonist more deeply and consider the various factors that led to his fall.
During the filming process, Stone used a lot of visual techniques and editing techniques to convey the tension of the film, and he used cold-tone photography and unique compositions to create a feeling of oppression and horror.
In terms of editing, he enhanced the tension of the audience through quick switching and tight scene arrangement, making the story more engaging.
"Born to Murder" caused widespread controversy and discussion after its release, on the one hand, the film was praised for its direct exposure to violence and social problems, believing that it dared to challenge social phenomena and caused the audience to think about the problem of violence.
On the other hand, there are also criticisms of the violent performance of the film, arguing that it is too bloody and exciting and may have a bad impact on the audience.
Oliver Stone's "Born to Kill" is a film with strong social criticism, through an in-depth analysis of violence and social issues.
He tried to arouse the attention and reflection of the audience, calling on society to think more deeply and solve the problem of violence.
The film made a lasting impression on fans and critics alike, establishing Oliver Stone's status and reputation as a director.
Plot overview
The protagonist of the story is a young man named Mike, who from an early age shows a strong impulse for violence and killing, and Mike grows up in an environment full of domestic violence and social injustice, which influence his thinking and behavior.
The film presents fragments of Mike's life through a non-linear narrative, revealing his childhood experiences and adult behavior, and the audience gradually learns that Mike showed cruel tendencies in childhood, often abusing and killing small animals, and over time, his impulses became stronger and began to act violently against humans.
Another thread in the story is a reporter named Kate tracking Mike, who tries to understand Mike's psychology and motivations, and she delves into his background and life.
She interviewed Mike's relatives, friends and other victims to try to shed light on his inner world and the impact he had.
Through the clever use of editing and narrative techniques, the film gradually reveals Mike's split personality and inner conflict, and the audience can see his chaotic thinking and pathological attraction to violence, and he feels simultaneous hatred and satisfaction for his murderous behavior, which puts him in a kind of mental dilemma.
Throughout the film, the relationship between violence and social issues is explored through the portrayal of Mike's personal story and environmental background, which provokes viewers to think about the media's portrayal of violence and the influence of culture on perceptions of violence.
The film also focuses on the self-identity and identity of individuals, and presents the influence of society on individual behavior and the inner struggle of individuals through Mike's character shaping.
Finally, the film ends with a shocking ending that leaves a deep impression on the audience, which provokes a discussion of violence and human nature, and generates profound reflections and reflections on the audience.
Through his unique directing techniques and screenwriting, Oliver Stone successfully presents this story full of violence and psychological distress, allowing the audience to have a deeper understanding of social issues.
Themes and symbols
In the film "Born to Kill", director Oliver Stone delves into the relationship between violence and individual psychological states.
The film centers on the protagonist Mitch McNeill, showing a character who is shaped into a murderer by the social environment and family background.
Mitch's psychological state is at the heart of the entire film, and his violent tendencies are depicted in detail in the film, where he experiences childhood abuse and cruelty, which leads to a deep desire for hatred and violence.
Through memories and flashbacks, the film shows important moments of Mickey's growing up, revealing how he gradually changed from an innocent child to a murderer.
The symbolic themes in the film are various symbolic elements that allude to Mickey's inner violence, for example, the director's clever use of the visual effects of blood and red as symbols of bloody violence.
Red is vividly presented in the film, symbolizing Mickey's inner dark side and the destructive power he brings.
The director also uses techniques such as lens language and sound effects to link items such as daggers, knives and weapons to Mickey's violent behavior, emphasizing his murderous nature.
Another symbolic theme in the film is the influence of media and culture on violence, and the director reveals how the media renders violent behavior as a form of entertainment that attracts viewers by showing Mickey's process in the media spotlight.
, which implies the media's responsibility for the dissemination and rendering of violence in society, and the audience's acceptance and pursuit of it.
The film "Born to Kill" provokes the audience's thinking about social issues by revealing the relationship between violence and individual psychological states, as well as the influence of media and culture on violence.
Through the use of symbolic themes, the director successfully conveys these complex themes to the audience, provoking in-depth discussion and reflection.
Photographic style and lens usage
The cinematography of Born Killer is characterized by dark, cold and tense tones, and the director creates an oppressive and terrifying atmosphere by using cold-tone filters and lighting effects.
This choice of tone allows the audience to feel more deeply the inner pain and distorted psychological state of the protagonist.
In terms of lens use, the director used a variety of techniques to emphasize the tension and theme of the film, first of all, the use of fast editing and fast switching of shots, this rapid editing method makes the rhythm of the film tight and tense, enhancing the tension of the audience.
The rapid switching of shots also makes it difficult for the audience to predict and adapt, further increasing the tension of the film.
The director used a large number of close-ups and close-up shots, the close-ups focused on the facial expressions and details of the characters, so that the audience could feel the ups and downs and pain of the characters' hearts more deeply, and the close-up shots put the audience in the perspective of the characters, increasing the audience's sense of substitution.
The director also used some innovative lens techniques to convey the theme of the film, for example, he used a fisheye lens to create distorted visual effects to highlight the protagonist's sense of confusion and madness, and he also used visual effects such as reflection shots and perspective lenses to enhance the illusion and psychological expression of the film.
Creating a dark, tense and distorted visual effect that not only reinforces the theme and emotions of the film, but also allows the audience to feel the inner world and pain of the protagonist more deeply.
Through careful cinematographic design, the director has successfully created a profound and shocking visual experience for the audience.
Use music and soundtrack effects
A variety of musical styles are used in the film, from sad melodies to tense sound effects, each piece of music can introduce the audience to the atmosphere of the plot, and when the protagonist faces inner contradictions and struggles, the soundtrack chooses a sad violin song, so that the audience can feel his inner entanglement and pain more deeply.
In the tense scenes, the soundtrack uses fast and intense music, which makes the audience feel nervous and excited.
Through the guidance of music, the audience can better integrate into the emotional atmosphere of the film, and experience the ups and downs and climax of the story with the characters.
Each main character has a corresponding musical theme or sound effect, and these musical elements help the audience better understand and feel the character's character and inner world, when the protagonist reveals his dark side and ruthlessness.
The score opts for a deep and terrifying soundtrack, which allows the audience to gain a deeper understanding of his perverted nature, and the appearances and departures of the main characters are often accompanied by specific music.
This choice of music not only highlights the importance of the characters, but also enhances the audience's attention and tension to the storyline.
The narrative rhythm of the film is enhanced through the ups and downs and changes of the music, and in the tense chase scene, the fast-paced soundtrack can increase the audience's sense of urgency and move the story forward.
Music can also serve as a sign of a turning point, guiding the audience into new plot phases, and when the soundtrack suddenly changes from tension to quiet or sad, the audience realizes that a major change has taken place in the story.
This musical shift deepens the audience's emotional experience and makes the story more engaging.
Music and soundtrack play an important role in the film Born Killer, deepening the audience's understanding and experience of the film through mood building, characterization and narrative advancement.
Whether through sad melodies or tense sound effects, the soundtrack successfully transports viewers into the world of the film, experiencing the ups and downs and twists of the story with the characters.
This use of music makes the film more vivid, moving, and unforgettable for the audience.
The impact and repercussions of the film on society
"Born to Murder" reveals the media's role in rendering and shaping violence through the protagonist's life experience and media coverage of him.
Audiences began to think about the responsibility and ethics of the media in presenting violent incidents, which led to a broad discussion on ethical standards and moral responsibilities in news reporting, prompting the media and society to pay more attention to the way violence is reported and respect for victims.
The film shows the protagonist's natural tendency to kill and delves into his inner conflicts and complex psychological states.
The audience discussed the relationship between mental illness and violence, and began to consider the importance of personal responsibility and social support in preventing and treating violence.
The film also drew public attention to mental health issues and pushed for more social resources to be devoted to mental health services and treatment.
The audience was shocked and outraged by the reality of the violence and social issues presented in the film.
They began to reflect on the moral values of society and human nature, and the film sparked a wave of public sentiment that drove more social discussion and action, including condemnation of violence and care for victims.
Finally, Oliver Stone, as a director, showed his unique perspective and directing style through "Born to Kill", which had a profound impact on the film industry, his film skills and narrative techniques.
For example, the use of non-linear narrative and editing techniques has been influenced and borrowed by many directors.
The film also earned Oliver Stone widespread acclaim and awards, making him a high-profile figure among contemporary directors.