Watch Kill Your Darlings

Kill Your Darlings is a 2013 American biographical drama film directed by John Krokidas, which follows the story of the Beat Generation's early days, focusing on the friendship and artistic collaboration between the poet Allen Ginsberg, the novelist Jack Kerouac, and the writer and editor William S. Burroughs. The story is set in the early 1940s, when Allen Ginsberg, a young and talented poet from New Jersey, enrolls at Columbia University to study literature. At school, he meets Lucien Carr, a charismatic, rebellious, and charming student who introduces him to a group of avant-garde artists and writers, including Kerouac, Burroughs, and the poetess Edie Parker.

As Ginsberg becomes increasingly fascinated by Carr's unconventional lifestyle and artistic aspirations, he falls deeply in love with him, in spite of Carr's ambiguous sexuality and troubled past. Meanwhile, the group experiments with drugs and unconventional literature, seeking to challenge the conservative and puritanical values of society.

However, their creative and personal pursuits are threatened when Carr is arrested and accused of murder, leading to a series of events that will test their loyalty, their artistic ideals, and their very lives.

The film showcases outstanding performances by the cast, particularly by Radcliffe, who delivers a powerful and complex portrayal of Ginsberg, capturing his vulnerability and passion, as well as his artistic and sexual awakening. DeHaan is also excellent as Carr, infusing his character with both charm and darkness, as well as a sense of tragic fate. Hall, meanwhile, gives a nuanced and menacing performance as David Kammerer, a former lover and mentor of Carr's, who is consumed by jealousy and obsession.

The film is visually stunning, with a dark and moody atmosphere that mirrors the characters' inner turmoil and the film's themes of art, sexuality, and death. The direction is skillful, balancing the characters' personal stories with historical and cultural context, without sacrificing emotional depth or narrative intensity.

Overall, Kill Your Darlings is a fascinating and thought-provoking film, which sheds light on an important period in American literary and cultural history, as well as on the complex and often tragic lives of the people who helped shape it. It is a film that not only entertains, but also challenges the viewer to examine their own beliefs and values, and the price one must pay for artistic and personal freedom.

Kill Your Darlings is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 65.