Does a killer MUST have a motive??

[Spider-man III]

I mean, is it totally necessary in your opinion? I think a movie where the killer kills for "Who knows!?" would kick arse!

[Spider-man III]

Shite! sorry on the grammar...I meant "Must a killer have a motive?"

[FeydRautha]

Well, in the game of story-telling (i.e., if you're writing a movie storyline), yes, it does help. But look at Leatherface in TCM 1: he had no discernible reason for killing his victims, he just felt the impulse to do so. (Thank Tobe Hooper for that.)

But these days (and my boss & I have had many long discussions about this), audiences like their plotlines to give them a reason for the killer's actions, even just at the very end of the film. When we last had this argument, I pointed out Steven Spielberg's early film "Duel": no one knows why the trucker's going after Dennis Weaver, or what his motives are (except to kill). I personally like that kind of film.

My boss responded that with today's theatre-going audience, people wouldn't react positively to that kind of killer. Their loss, I say.

[rikimaru187]

I have to disagree with you on Leatherface. He wasn't killing for no reason. He was 'Bringin' home the bacon' so to speak. I don't think Jason really has a motive. I mean they mention the "revenge" thing because of his mother, but he's killed a shit load of people who had nothing to do with that. All in all though I think they all have motives.

Jason Voorhees: Unattentive counselor's=Jason drowns.
Jason's mother beheaded=Jason's pissed.

Michael Myers: Cursed for eternity to hunt down everyone in his bloodline=massive amounts of dead bodies.

Freddy Kruegar: Child Killer=Burned alive=One pissed off dream walker.

Chucky: Soul transferred into a doll=MUST FIND WAY OUT!!! (no matter what)

Leatherface: Can't afford to buy groceries=Human chili and bbq ribs.

See, they all have motives, imo anyway. :D

[Boogeyman]

I think its alot scarier when ther is no motive.
For example...Michael Myers (Halloween) and Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 2, 3, and 4) are alot scarier because they have no movtive. And thats what makes it scarier...because not knowing why they're doing this, and you dont know how to stop them.

later

[anybodykilla100]

i dont think its necessary we never found out why lector ate people

[teenkiller]

No I don't think a killer NEEDS a motive to do what he does. FeydRautha gives an excellent example with Duel. We hardly get any dialogue at all in that film let alone an explanation for the hunters madness and it works well. Another great example is BLACK CHRISTMAS. Do we ever find out who "Billy" is or why he does what he does? Not really, and thats what I think works best about the film. And how about THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT? Theres no explanation ever given for the killers madness and methods and yet I consider it to be one of my top ten favorite movies of all time. Note how these films all came out in the 70s and had some balls. Nowadays a cheesy explanation is given at the end of each slasher and I find it ridiculous. If I wanted to kill somebody I wouldn't give them a five minute explanation on why. It just feels really forced. An obvious attempt to tell the audience rather than the victim. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[JustOneFix]

To me, motives are essential because I'm inquisitive by nature or at least trying to be.

The Duel worked so well because it personified an inanimate object - the truck. We never see the driver's face nor do we know if he was there for sure. The truck is a manifestation of the main character's own fears. He is basically being chased by himself. There's your motive.

As for Black Christmas, I think the ending was rather lame, but given the subdued, unobtrusive, and anti-climactic nature of the film itself, it went over just fine.

Motives always increase the ratio of rational to irrational within the movie and make for a better plausibility. That's why the Thorn worked so well - regardless of its pseudo-scientific origins, it was believable and not to far-fetched.

[Juice]

Originally posted by Boogeyman
I think its alot scarier when ther is no motive.
For example...Michael Myers (Halloween) and Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 2, 3, and 4) are alot scarier because they have no movtive. And thats what makes it scarier...because not knowing why they're doing this, and you dont know how to stop them.



They both have a motive: Leatherface kills to eat, Micheal kills because it's pure evil.

Jason kills to revenge his mother, he blames every counselor for her death. He gets reborn every time new people come to 'his' camp.

[MacReady]

I think it's unrealistic when a normal person just decides to slaughter people for the heck of it, and it kinda ruines the movie for me. Young Michael Myers:"you know, I got nothing else better to do, why don't I just wipe out my entire fmily bloodline?"

[Boogeyman]

Originally posted by Juice
They both have a motive: Leatherface kills to eat, Micheal kills because it's pure evil.


Well..being pure evil is not a motive. Thats like saying...I have a headache, so Im gonna go kill someone. Thats just what he is. Its not why. Why would be like Jason coming back over and over to kill camp counciolors who will never learn.

later

[whizeguy69]

In my opinion, the less you know about a killer, the better. Damn that crazy woman in "Jeepers Creepers"!

[TheDeadWalk]

Insanity, Evil, Rage, and "no real reason" are still motives to me...

I don't think it takes a concrete meaning to equal a motive...

[JCR]

i dont think its necessary we never found out why lector ate people

Well we did find that out in Hannibal (the novel) but to be honest it wasn't a great reason- I'm glad the film didn't include it.

[KillerKlown]

Originally posted by JCR
Well we did find that out in Hannibal (the novel) but to be honest it wasn't a great reason- I'm glad the film didn't include it.


Yeah the real reason sucked, although the reason Clarice gives in the film isn't too bad.

It's always better to understand why a killer does what they do - if not, it just seems so pointless.