seen film many years ago made lasting impression me alas hardened many films years expect impressed kalifornia upon watching recently pleased say every bit unnerving watchable ten years agobr br there two things really give movie power first cast staggeringly disturbing turn young brad pitt early grace knowing pitt do one enduring heartthrobs hollywood ever had refreshing see play vile unattractive character pitt pulls show without resorting whitetrash clich parody manages remain genuinely terrifying throughout moviebr br juliette lewis equally impressive graces tragic girlfriend playing character like ten year old girl forty year olds life experience lewis manages evoke pity for characters station life well contempt for naivety underpins performance kind subtlety rarely seen actor young personally think tragedy neither pitt lewis nominated awards performances herebr br david duchovony michelle forbes perfectly cast yuppy couple unwittingly end travelling across us pitt lewis duchovony aptly geeky naive forbes seems emphatically cynical shutoff actors manage convincingly portray characters changes equally intrigued repulsed strangely attracted pittbr br the fine casting uniformly brilliant acting aside film really grabs us proverbial balls flawless pacing time kalifornia released hollywood releasing slew nicecharacterturnsouttobepsychotic movies single white female pacific heights the hand rocks cradle deceived sleeping enemy etc movies followed formula variation nature relationship good guy bad guy kalifornia really stray far territory first two acts perfect example slowboil thriller kept edge seats waiting tide turnbr br when penny drop pitt let loose play maniacal bad guy film shifts gears completely last twenty minutes quite live rest movie said action thick fast resolution suitable cold fight over scars always therebr br much narration provided somewhat whiny pre xfiles duchovony tad contrived course meant book duchovonys journalist character written one could argue selfconscious narration meant nod kind sensationalised style journalists writebr br the film largely success certainly cut  thrillers past twenty years highly recommended weak stomach mind film disturbing one level then meant be