MovieChat Forums > In Cold Blood (1996) Discussion > I get the ending, but it's weak. (SPOILE...

I get the ending, but it's weak. (SPOILERS)

posted 15 years ago by TheManInOil
5 replies | jump to latest

Okay, so the father, for all his supposed fearlessness, is helpless in the face of these events. Even his wife has more gumption, and we see the failure of his religion to deal with the real evils of the world. Truly, he is revealed as a craven figure, who allows a man to take his daughter to presumably rape and murder without even a scuffle. It's a condemnation of the easy, religious life or at least an attempt to expose it as weak.

But unless we know the story behind this movie (which I don't, other than in the vaguest terms), we are left not knowing what is to happen. So we can't grasp the full significance of events. Why is Roberts so upset? You are expected to know that he will kill these people, but if you didn't read about the case before viewing, you don't know that.

It all ends so abruptly and without development that it's confusing. Meanwhile huge amounts of time are devoted to 'atmosphere' and watching the characters' slow progress toward the scene of their eventual crime. Something went seriously wrong here.

"Now let's have an intelligent conversation. I'll talk and you listen."

[–] cshep79406 14 years ago

I didn't care for this depiction of Herb Clutter. According to the book, the family remained calm because they believed all Dick and Perry wanted to do was rob them. By the time Mr. Clutter realized what was going to happen, it was too late. Even after they cut his throat, Mr. Clutter somehow got his hands loose and was struggling to get up when they shot him. Although it is not indicated in this movie, he put up a valiant struggle.

[–] Clemencedane 11 years ago

Watch the original -it's fantastic and makes 100 times more sense.

[–] greeneyedredheadqt 10 years ago

Watch the original -it's fantastic and makes 100 times more sense.

This. And for those who want to get a better grasp and read one of the best true crime stories ever, IMHO do yourselves a favor and read the book.

[–] evan-mann-92 10 years ago

You are expected to know that he will kill these people, but if you didn't read about the case before viewing, you don't know that.

It sounds like you only watched Part 1. It's a two part series, each part is 90 minutes. In Part 2, we see the criminals flee and the cops chase them. I won't give away any more but this isn't the ending. They revisit the night of the murders in part 2. I'd recommend watching the 1967 version though. And Capote is a great film about a the same case but includes the author of the book (truman capote).

[–] sawarrior 8 years ago

Okay, so the father, for all his supposed fearlessness, is helpless in the face of these events. Even his wife has more gumption, and we see the failure of his religion to deal with the real evils of the world. Truly, he is revealed as a craven figure, who allows a man to take his daughter to presumably rape and murder without even a scuffle. It's a condemnation of the easy, religious life or at least an attempt to expose it as weak.

You amaze me with such an unusual and ridiculous take on this story. I suspect that you just have an unusually strong bias against religious people (or maybe just Christians)and you got to great length to be critical of Herb (& his religion) which is outrageous.