Interesting point about tenderness (the state of being)

At the bowling alley, Eric shows his disdain for "softness". Thinks it's gross -- like a true pyschopath.

But Lori does make him become more tender. He emphasizes with her suffering, and her caring for him, and her efforts to help/protect him. And in the end has real feelings for another person. A breakthrough of sorts.

And in the end, maybe that's the point / redeeming feature of the film -- these are both characters blocked from tenderness in different ways -- he (most likely) because of a biologically damaged pyschology, and she because of abuse/neglect.

She sees him express a form of tenderness with the dead girl, and this gives her hope for the future. (She's clearly inspired by him, with her scrapbook, etc.) And even though she cannot achieve the kind of relationship with him that she wants, I think she knows he cares at the end. And her stupid, unnecessary sacrifice at least gives him an emotional gift, in a sense. So it's not completely pointless.

Despite being very sad (and unnecessarily so), this film is in a sense very beautiful, because these two characters do genuinely care for each other. Maybe part of the point is to simply appreciate when people care for us, and appreciate how special that is.