WHAT THE PAPERS SAID

Wednesday 15 February 1995 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

"[NBK] has triggered off a barrage of hate and hell-fire... a series of copycat murders have outraged police and sparked off calls for a review of America's system of film censorship. According to detectives, soon after the release of Natural Born Killers baby-faced Eric Elliott, 16, teamed up with 22-year-old Lewis Gilbert. They then started writing their own script... in blood."

Today

"The risk that it will send people who see it out on the streets in a bout of murderous triumphalism, like the two young psychopaths in it, is tiny... A far greater risk is closing down the minds of people altogether by forbidding them to see what others disapprove of."

Alexander Walker, London Evening Standard

"I find it difficult to imagine any artistic argument to justify the inclusion of so many fatalities."

Frank Cook MP, Standard

"Some may have the effontery to defend this film as `Art', but if so it is art without beauty, art empty of moral content, art with a terryfying power to corrupt the vulnerable and the weak. If ever a film deserved to be banned, this is it."

Leader in Daily Mail

"Why this film MUST be banned from Britain"

Page 1 headline, Daily Mail

"Woody Harrelson was brilliant in his comic role as a barman in Cheers. But he should know better than to get involved in a film so gratuitously violent... especially as his own father was jailed for life for murdering a judge."

Letter in Today

"Pirate videos of the shocking movie NBK - blamed for at least 10 copycat murders - are being sold to schoolchildren ... Student Chris said: `My mate told me his dad got the videos from America.' Chris's furious mum Angela last night said: `It's outrageous that children can buy copies of this horrific video at school. I won't let Chris watch it. I'm worried it will warp his mind.' "

The Sun

"Elizabeth Stone, who divorced the Academy-award winning director 18 months ago after 12 years of marriage, is convinced the film's appalling violence is the result of his anger at their marriage split. `All the lines of dialogue are things he yelled at me. It's my divorce up there on the screen.' "

Mail on Sunday

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in