Kill Your Darlings

Set in the early 1940s at Columbia University in New York City, "Kill Your Darlings" is a historical drama that revolves around the lives of the Beat Generation's most iconic poets, including Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William S. Burroughs. The film is a compelling exploration of their struggles, passions, and dark secrets that ultimately led to the demise of one of their own. The movie unfolds with a poignant tone, focusing on the tumultuous relationship between Allen Ginsberg (played by Daniel Radcliffe), a talented young poet struggling to find his place in the world, and William S. Burroughs (played by Ben Foster), a charismatic and enigmatic fellow student. Ginsberg, deeply influenced by the works of Homer and fascinated by the power of poetry, finds himself torn between his desire to create something authentic and his need for validation and acceptance. Ginsberg's life is forever changed when he meets Jack Kerouac (played by Jack Huston), a passionate and adventurous young man who shares his love for poetry and his disdain for the conventions of the academic world. The two become close friends, and together they form the nucleus of the Beat Generation, a circle of like-minded individuals drawn to the bohemian lifestyle and the idea of living outside the boundaries of mainstream society. As the story progresses, the relationship between Ginsberg and his mentor, Professor Lionel 'Leo' Marks (played by Michael C. Hall), becomes more complicated. Leo, a closeted gay man and an admirer of Ginsberg's talent, begins to exert a profound influence over the young poet, not only regarding his poetry but also his personal life. This complex dynamic between Leo and Ginsberg sets the stage for the tragic events that unfold, exposing the darker aspects of the academic world and the hypocrisy that lurked beneath the surface of their seemingly idyllic lives. In the midst of this turmoil, a murder mystery begins to unfold. David Kammerer (played by Dane DeHaan), a charismatic and unstable young man, had been Ginsberg's mentor and lover since their early teenage years. However, their relationship began to unravel as they moved to Columbia University, where Kammerer's obsessive behavior became increasingly disturbing. The tension between the two eventually leads to a tragic confrontation that results in Kammerer's brutal murder. With the help of Burroughs and Kerouac, Ginsberg tries to navigate the aftermath of the crime and the resulting police investigation. As the film's climax unfolds, Ginsberg's guilt and sense of responsibility for Kammerer's death begin to overwhelm him, threatening to upend his relationships with his friends and his own sense of identity. In the end, "Kill Your Darlings" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of human relationships, the power of poetry to transcend the boundaries of reality, and the dark secrets that can sometimes destroy even the most brilliant and promising lives. The film's masterful portrayal of the early days of the Beat Generation and its most iconic poets captures the raw energy and creative ferment of a pivotal moment in literary history. Through the lens of this historical drama, the filmmakers skillfully convey the sense of disillusionment and rebellion that characterized the lives of those who rejected the conventions of the academic and intellectual worlds. "Kill Your Darlings" is a compelling and nuanced tale of love, murder, and the transformative power of art, one that sheds light on the lesser-known moments of a pivotal chapter in American literary history.