Terrence Malicks first film, Badlands (1973), provides insight to the desensitization of a murderer. The characters Kit (Martin Sheen) and Holly (Sissy Spacek) are depraved; the voiceovers allow them to be human while their actions distance them from humanity.
Hollys relationship to Kit is interesting. They fall in love. When Kit murders her father, Holly makes the decision to stay with him. Their relationship is no longer the same. At first, they have fun, but Holly becomes more removed. She thinks about her future husband, and reveals to other characters that she feels as if she must support Kit, for he is lost and needs someone. Holly stays true to her initial decision to be with Kit, but she longs for a different life. It feels almost as if she fells obligated to stay with him because she first choose this path, though now she wants to be a part of society. It seems that many people can relate to this situation. A person may fall in love and decide to be with a person, but later the love fades, yet that person has so much history with the other that s/he feels like s/he cannot leave.
There are Western elements to Badlands (1973); the woman wants to settle down and tame the uncivilized man. But the man is called to the wild, walks on the other side of the law, and this dooms him to wander alone. Kit is an outlaw, but he does not want to be alone. Kit does not fight for some justice; instead, his actions are selfish and depraved. It seems that he never realizes how death affects others except when he worries about himself.
Badlands (1973) does a good job at showing the depravity of an action without forcing the audience to hate the characters. Kit and Holly are human in a way that people can relate. They make mistakes, are not too ignorant to be innocent, but are depraved nonetheless.
So recluse Terrence Malick who refuses to be photographed has a cameo in the movie. He plays the man who rings the bell at the rich mans house. He is un-credited, but I got this trivia information from imdb.com. You can choose to trust that source.
~Kristen Gorlitz