I´ve recently seen this movie and I was kind of confused. Why did the guy kill his wife and parents? And why did he suddenly surrender when Byron Orlock came to him? I would surely appreciate any explanation, although I know it probably sounds like I haven´t watched the film at all...
share[deleted]
You're right to be confused, because the movie never offered any explanation. This is not the fault of the movie, though. Rather, it is the main point of the movie: the horrifying reality that someone could go on a cold blooded killing spree, killing not only random innocents, but even their own loved ones... and for no reason whatsoever. No reason except sheer insanity.
The story is based on Charles Whitman, who committed mass-murder in 1966. He killed his wife, killed his mother, put them neatly into bed, and then went and climbed a clock tower and killed many innocent people. The only major difference was that Whitman was killed, not captured. No one had any clue why he did what he did. However, I think I remember hearing that in his suicide note he asked that his brain be studied carefully, and they did indeed find a tumor. Supposedly experts believe there was no connection.
Why did he go to pieces when Orlok confronted him? Because he was insane. He saw Orlok coming from the left, then he saw him coming from the right. Not being in a rational state of mind, this was enough to make him go to pieces.
"Why did he go to pieces when Orlok confronted him? Because he was insane. He saw Orlok coming from the left, then he saw him coming from the right. Not being in a rational state of mind, this was enough to make him go to pieces."
Especially because he'd just shot both Orloks and neither even paused in their march at him.
===================
"Good God. Is *that* what I was afraid of?"
I think it might also display an interesting statement with media influences on social behavior. Did Orlok's horror pictures, or pictures in general have an influence on his actions? He seemed untouchable until he was in the presence of a horror icon. Was he loosing rationality (thats to say if he had any left at that point) when he was literally engulfed in a fushion of fiction and reality? Perhaps he lost it when his line for reality and fantasy collided in the presence of the real Orlok and the pop-icon fantastical Orlok. Its also interesting to read what Orlok meant in his last line, "Is this what I was afraid of?". Perhaps Orlok wanted to quit the business because of a fear that his paticular body of work was a shameful influence to the audience, in addition the the obvious notion that his work was getting more and more ludicris. When he confronted the shooter, he saw a scared young man huddled in the corner- "Is this what I was afraid of?" What he imagined may well have been anything, but what he saw certainly couldn't be anymore shocking- a young scared man with a bag full of guns and absolutely no motive.
shareAnother explanation is Bobby was a coward. He couldn't stand up to a stronger personality. Once Orlok got within arms length and started slapping the young man, Bobby's will was completely broken. This could also explain why Bobby waited until his father the left the house to start his killing spree.
share"Thwarted ambitions", or a realization that the American Dream is out of reach, has caused many real-life killers to declare war on society. A married man who's still living with his parents is probably not enjoying a successful career.
shareWhile the movie quite rightly, does not spell out the reasons why Bobby killed members of his family, I think that there are definite clues .His Father is an authoritarian figure , and his son is clearly in awe of him. It is significant that he addresses him as "Sir". In addition we see that he is a married man living with his parents .His Wife has to work nights . As I recall he is also unemployed . He obviously felt these humiliations keenly and they took him over the edge.
Gordon P. Clarkson