Teenage Terror: The Shocking True Story Behind the 1973 Film "Badlands"

Terrence Malick's 1973 debut film Badlands was widely acclaimed for its acting and stunning visuals. What some may not know is that the film was influenced by a real life crime spree 15 years earlier

Background

Badlands is the debut film from writer and director Terrence Malick. Released in October 1973, it stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. The film was widely acclaimed, and in 1993, it was selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”