Review of Kill Your Darlings (2013) by Simon G — 14 Jun 2014
The ultimate Beat film, Kill Your Darlings gives an excellent portrayal of the early Columbia days of Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kerouac while all revolving around Lucien Carr and a murder that effected all their lives.
John Krokidas's (who also directs) and Austin Bunn's screenplay brims with the hipster attitude of the time as well as taking us into the darker places int he mind of Carr leading up to the infamous murder of David Kammerer.
The cast are all superb. Daniel Radcliffe sheds his Harry Potter image starring as famous homosexual poet Allen Ginsberg giving an uncompromising performance. Dane DeHann is brilliant, as always, as the rebellious Carr, who drags the Beat heroes into his wild world. Ben Foster is a particular stand out as William S. Burroughs, the voice pitch-perfect. Michael C. Hall of Dexter fame also impresses as the doomed Kammerer and Jack Huston gives a solid performance as a young, care-free Jack Kerouac.
Where Darlings really shines though is in the turbulent relationship between Ginsberg and Carr as the innocent rule following Ginsberg comes to terms with his sexuality at the same time as he starts to build a foundation for his future revolutionary and creative ideals.
This review of Kill Your Darlings (2013) was written by Simon G on 14 Jun 2014.
Kill Your Darlings has generally received positive reviews.
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