I wasn’t expecting the story starting in the hidden corners of this peaceful town to wind up in Montana's Badlands. Badlands comes from Terrence Malick, who wrote and directed it. The cast includes Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Ramon Bieri, and Warren Oats. George Tipton and James Taylor composed the music, while Tak Fujimoto, Steven Larner, and Brian Probyn handled the cinematography. It appears critics hold Badlands in high regard, frequently calling it one of the finest directorial debuts ever made. Possibly inspired by the Starkweather-Fugate killing spree from 1958, although those involved have stressed that all characters and situations are fictional, there’s still a lot to admire about this film. It's visually striking, and Malick’s sometimes unusual approach to storytelling gives it an unsettling quality. Spacek and Sheen both deliver strong performances considering the roles they were given. Still, I don’t think Malick’s exploration of 1950s American youth without morals, a loss of innocence, feelings of being disconnected, and similar themes, is as profound as many believe. Some people suggest Kit and Holly's unclear motivations are intentionally designed to make you think, but I feel they come across as uninteresting characters, only made engaging by the actors’ work. Malick’s use of Holly’s narration is a smart way to keep viewers engaged because the film’s structure can be repetitive, making it tedious to spend time with Kit and Holly. And then there's the issue of believability... I realize I might be an outlier, but after several attempts to appreciate what’s supposedly so brilliant about Badlands, I just don’t get it. A sense of legend and mystique has grown around this film over the years, but while there's undeniable beauty on display, there isn't a compelling core underneath. 6/10

Source on TMDB