i have see this film many year ago and it have make a lasting impression on me . ala and i have harden to many film over the year and do not expect to be impress by kalifornia upon watch again recently . i be pleased to say that it be every bit a unnerving and watchable a it be ten or so year ago . there be two thing which really give this movie it power . the first be it cast . we have a staggeringly disturb turn by a young brad pitt a early grace . know pitt and a we all do and a one of the most enduring heart throb hollywood have ever have and it be refresh to see him play such a vile and unattractive character . pitt pull the show off without resort to white trash cliché or parody and and manages to remain genuinely terrify throughout the movie . juliette lewis be equally impressive a grace tragic girlfriend and play the character like a ten year old girl with a forty year old life experience . lewis manage to evoke pity ( for her character station in life ) as well a contempt ( for her naivety ) and but she underpin her performance with the kind of subtlety rarely see by an actor so young . personally and i think it a tragedy that neither pitt nor lewis be nominate for any award for their performance here . david duchovony and michelle forbes be both perfectly cast a the yuppy couple who unwittingly end up travel across the u with pitt and lewis . duchovony be aptly geeky and naive and and forbes seem emphatically cynical and shut off and but both actor manage to convincingly portray their character change a they be equally intrigue and repulse and strangely attract to pitt . the fine casting and uniformly brilliant act aside and this film really grab u by the proverbial ball through it flawless pacing . at the time kalifornia be release and hollywood be release a slew of nice character turn out to be psychotic movie ( single white female and pacific height and the hand that rock the cradle and deceive and sleep with the enemy etc ) . most of these movie follow the same formula and the only variation be the nature of the relationship between good guy and bad guy . kalifornia doesn not really stray too far from this territory and but it first two act be the perfect example of the slow boil thriller and and we be keep on the very edge of our seat wait for the tide to turn . when the penny do drop and and pitt be let loose to play the maniacal bad guy and the film shift gear completely and the last twenty minute do not quite live up to rest of the movie . that say and the action be thick and fast and the resolution be suitable cold . the fight be over and but the scar will always be there . much of the narration ( provide by a somewhat whiny and pre x file duchovony ) be a tad contrive . of course and it mean to be from the book the duchovony journalist character have write and so one could argue that the self conscious narration be mean to be a nod to the kind of sensationalised style in which most journalist write . the film be largely a success and be certainly a cut above 90 % of the thriller of the past twenty year . highly recommended and but not for the weak of stomach or mind . this film be disturb on more than one level . but then and it mean to be .