Don't watch this alone on a dark night. I had to remind myself as I watched this the first time that the men I was seeing commit a horrible series of murders were not the real ones. Robert Blake, who is scary in his own right, and Scott Wilson are the actors, but we really lose sight of that. Based on Truman Capote's biographical novel, this is the story of a couple of lost souls who arrive at a home, hoping to rob it, find the family home, and kill everyone. They get in too deep and can't leave any witnesses. It doesn't take long to capture them and the bulk of the movie involves what it's like as they await their executions. There is nothing sugar coated about this. They await hanging for a deplorable crime. What is interesting is that we see these men as human beings. They are not victims, but they have had checkered lives and have not figured out how to live properly. If you want another view of this, see the movie "Capote." It gives even further insights into the psyches of these guys.

This is a deeply troubling film.Throughout the production streamlined editing makes a constant equation, an echo, even, of the actions of the victims and victimisers, criminals on the run and police on the chase. A stolen watch thrown into a river becomes a magnet dredging a dam for a stolen car. An anonymous car driving past the soon-to-be murdered family's farm is replaced by an inside view of another car - the killers', though they're not at the farmhouse... yet.The killers are two drifters and parole breakers: a smooth talking conman and an inward turned, violent and disturbed criminal. "Dick" Hickock is a natural born shyster: in his best scene he swindles a tailor out of a free suit and money when they cash a phoney check. Note the way the tailor clearly doesn't trust him, but allows himself to be swindled.A weapon that the movie uses against its audience is a non-linear narrative. Just as shots seamlessly dissolve from happy family to violent criminality, the present is linked with the past in Perry Smith's mind as we witness his traumatic and violent family history. These events loom large in Smith's mind, so large that the conman Dick Hickock can easily manipulate his disturbed partner and turn talk into violence.The effect of all this provides the movie's most troubling association: that of fate. Note the way the tailor's face is that of a man who knows he's being screwed. Why does he allow Hickock to continue his swindle? And the recollections in Smith's mind: at first we see them as flashbacks in a dangerous mind, but then the killing at the farmhouse itself is shown after everything else, putting it on an even kiel with these reflections. The non-linearity of time, the decades old flashbacks looming just as large as the present, these things suggest that the actions we witness are fated to occur; the criminals and their victims were always inclined to collide like two asteroids on a collision course. Note also the way the men are arrested: this would be a climactic event in a lesser movie. Here it is a routine stop, blink and you miss it.The events leading up to their capture are also given short shrift. Even in 1967 audiences were familiar with police work as it is shown in movies. We already know they're going to be caught, so why go into details? But it's more than that. The total of the movie seems to be suggesting that the murder itself, the capture, the death sentence, were always on the cards even before the criminals knew it.The constant equation, moving from place to place that should be bracing in their disparity, makes for one of the most troubling movies ever made, bleak and nihilistic, and bolstered by fine performances from the two main leads: Scott Wilson like a young George C. Scott as Dick Hickock, and Robert Blake, terrifying as always, showing why he was made to play one of the most frightening movie characters ever as Mystery Man in Lost Highway, 30 years later.Call it fate.

In Cold Blood is a slow-burn crime drama that some people will adore, and others maybe not so much. I was stuck in the middle, mainly because the pace is excruciating slow. But other than the slow pace, I did find many things to like about the film. I liked the tone of the film and the eerie nature it gives off. Being filmed in black-and-white gives authenticity to the film, which after all is based off the real crime. The location of the movie ties into that eeriness because the film was shot on the site of the actual murder, so we get to see how everything actually happened, or close to it at least. I loved the quiet, semi-jazzy score from Quincy Jones. Also I felt maybe the final half-hour of the film was the best part of the movie.Richard Brook's film is about two men named Perry and Dick who are about to commit a robbery on a Kansas farm based off suspect information. When they realize they were not about to make the big score they had anticipated, they make sure not to keep their victims alive. Now the two men escape and flee to Mexico. But with law enforcement after them, their freedom may be running out.The film is full of nice performances. At the time of release in 1967 and even by today's standard, there are really no big stars. But I felt the cast did a good job. Robert Blake does a solid job as Perry, the man with a conscience and a violent edge. Scott Wilson, more famous for playing Herschel in the Walking Dead television series, does an excellent job as the carefree Dick.Overall, In Cold Blood is a solid crime drama. I felt it could have been much better given its slow, meandering pace, but the film is full of solid performances and it has a killer ending. I also felt intrigued as I learned about the actual crime, based off the research of Truman Capote. It was a very grisly crime, and I'm glad the movie did not skip the details of the crime. I actually thought, based off the first half of the film, that it would not show the crime. If that happened, I would have been thoroughly disappointed. I really like movies based off true stories, which is why I checked this film out. Not an entirely great film, but certainly chilling and enjoyable.My Grade: B-

The acting and direction in the movie adaption of In Cold Blood played an important and effective role in the characterization of Dick and Perry. In order for this film to work, Scott Wilson needed to play Dick as a cunning and charming personality. The suit store scene perfectly displays these tendencies. In this scene, Dick demonstrates his cunningness by giving the salesman a believable and ordinary story for why he needs a suit. He then uses his charm when he tells the salesman he is the best man and this is his wedding present to Perry. Now, the salesman has an emotional interest in helping Dick instead of merely wanting to make money. After picking out the suits and Dick's continued charm and wit, the salesman believes he has a bond with Dick when he treats him as friend by trusting him with the check. The top notch acting from Scott Wilson, convinced the viewer of Dick's personality and abilities which aided the movies attempt to display an authentic crime. The emphasis in each scene, provided by the director, successfully made the audience sympathize with Perry. The constant pain Perry showed from his accident that created his aspirin addiction demonstrated his vulnerability. Perry's flashbacks throughout the movie, initiated by a mini deja-vu, informed the viewer of Perry's troubled past. For example, when Perry is near his death, he recalls his father aiming a gun at him while telling him to "take a good look" because this is the last thing he will ever see. This scene came before his hanging when he was concerned about his last moments in the world and how they would feel. The flashback allowed the audience to almost pardon Perry's action as a result of a troubled childhood. All of these vulnerabilities culminate during Perry's account of the murder when he reluctantly goes into the Clutters house followed by his attempts to persuade Dick to leave the house. This direction, along with the acting, allowed an accurate, gripping, and entertaining film adaption.