10 Secrets Behind The Making Of Natural Born Killers

Natural Born Killers is one of the most hotly debated films of all time, and not without good reason. From the no-holds-barred story about two star-crossed lovers murdering their way across the United States to the alleged copy cat crimes, everything about the Oliver Stone-directed movie is controversial.

Whatever one’s thoughts are on the work, the performances from Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis and the visual style are undeniably strong. To celebrate this dangerous 1994 masterpiece, the following list will present ten lesser-known facts about the making of the movie. Hopefully, it inspires some to watch it and clears any of the confusion for those who dismiss it as exploitative dribble.

10 Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino penned the script and had intended to film it himself, but eventually sold it and Oliver Stone took charge. The director made numerous rewrites until it was nearly unrecognizable from Tarantino’s original intentions. The whole subtext about the media’s obsession and marketing of violence was Stone’s doing.

Quentin was displeased with the changes, despised the finished product, and disowned his contribution. Even with his vocal disdain, numerous people still group this movie in as a Tarantino flick, even though it is tonally different than the rest of his works. His original script was eventually published.

9 Tim Roth And Steve Buschemi

Tim Roth and Steven Buscemi were both offered roles in the film. Their relationship with Quentin Tarantino is the primary reason why they turned down the offer to partake in the project.

Quentin told both of them that he would never cast them in anything again if they took the parts. The legendary director eventually used Roth again in The Hateful Eight, but Buscemi is still waiting for a call. The last movie he appeared in from Tarantino was Pulp Fiction.

8 The Prison Scenes

The last act of the movie is set in a prison, as the two leads await transfer to a psychiatric hospital. These scenes were filmed at the Stateville Correctional Center, which was a functioning prison at the time and still operates today. Not only that, but many of the extras were actual inmates, most of whom were incarcerated for unspeakably violent crimes. Extras were eventually brought in because the prison went on lockdown, but the real-life inmates still made it into the film.

7 Snoop Dog

Snoop Dog is a legend today, mainly for his contributions to hip hop in the early 90s. His biggest hits include “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” and “Gin and Juice.” Oliver Stone wanted to get him involved for the soundtrack but Warner Bros. was wholly against the idea because the rapper was on trial for murder. He was never accused of pulling the trigger, but instead, he allegedly drove the car during a drive-by shooting. Because of this, any chance of getting the artist in his prime was squashed.

6 Robert Richardson

Robert Richardson was the director of photography and served the same role on several prior Stone films like Platoon, Wall Street, and JFK. He had a notably troubled time during this production. He didn’t want to make it in the first place and his wife, who had recently almost died during childbirth, said she would leave if he made the movie.

He eventually took the job, but the two-month shooting schedule was miserable, and he suffered several injuries when behind the camera. It’s up to him to say if the finished project was worth it, but the resulting work was magnificent. He has since worked on numerous iconic films like Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood and The Hateful Eight. His recent work with Tarantino is somewhat ironic considering the director’s disdain for the movie.

5 Coca-Cola

Advertisements are interspersed throughout the film as a way to show the comforting nature of commercials on television. They are something familiar and safe on a medium that so often wants viewers to be scared. Considering the graphic content, it is surprising Coca-Cola allowed their brand to be featured in such a fashion. Reportedly, the company approved it before realizing what kind of movie it was. Maybe they didn’t know the name, but what wholesome possibilities could possibly come from a title like Natural Born Killers?

4 Wayne Gale’s Accent

Reporter Wayne Gale was not intended to have an Australian accent, but the feature came at Robert Downey Jr.’s insistence. To prepare for the part, he spent time with controversial journalist Steve Dunleavy, who hails from Australia.

Their time together must have had a big impact on the actor, because he then asked Oliver Stone if he could play the part with an accent. It’s hard to say if it really had an impact or not, but it is none the less a great role.

3 Tori Amos Almost Played Mallory

Tori Amos is a legendary songwriter and piano player, but she also pursued acting for a time. The songstress was in talks with Stone to portray Mallory, but negotiations quickly fell apart when the director mentioned wanting to use the song “Me and A Gun” during a murder scene. The song is about her experience with sexual assault, so she was understandably offended by the suggestion and reportedly slapped him for the idea. The movie is insensitive by its nature, but using someone’s real-life trauma as a film making tool crosses a line.

2 Rodney Dangerfield Wrote His Own Lines

Rodney Dangerfield’s role as Mallory’s abusive father on the twisted family sitcom interpretation of her home life was as simultaneously puzzling as it was perfect. The legendary comedian pulled off his perverse part like a champ, even though he himself didn’t quite understand why such a dark subject matter was handled like a bad joke. Rodney wrote all of his own lines, which goes to show how unhinged some comedians’ minds can be.

1 Famous Actors In Deleted Scenes

Every film has deleted scenes, but sometimes an actor’s entire performance is left on the cutting room floor; such was the case with Ashley Judd and Denis Leary in Natural Born Killers. Judd filmed a courtroom scene as the sole survivor of a sorority house massacre. Mickey cross-examines her and ends the questioning by stabbing her to death. Leary filmed a monologue as a prisoner in his classic manic manner of speaking.