The Killing of America (1981)
“The Killing of America” is a powerful and provocative documentary that delves into the perceived decline of the United States. Directed by Sheldon Renan and Leonard Schrader, the film presents a raw and unflinching portrayal of a disunited nation constantly at war with itself.
The documentary features interviews with key figures, including Ed Dorris, a retired sergeant of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and Los Angeles County Coroner Thomas Noguchi. Through their perspectives, the film sheds light on the dark underbelly of American society.
The narrative unfolds through a series of chilling vignettes. It begins by connecting America’s woes to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. The film contends that hope for recovery was extinguished when Robert F. Kennedy was killed in 1968. The Zapruder film and news footage from that fateful night are hauntingly interwoven into the narrative.
The 1960s witnessed the rise of “sniper” mass murderers—often white, seemingly well-adjusted individuals who killed randomly. The film exemplifies this phenomenon with the murders of Charles Whitman. In the subsequent decade, the emergence of “sex killers” like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy, who raped and sexually abused their victims, further darkened the American landscape.
One pivotal event analyzed in the documentary is the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting. A 16-year-old teenager opened fire on children and staff from her window, resulting in injuries to nine people and the deaths of the school’s principal and a janitor.
The film culminates with the murder of John Lennon, juxtaposing footage from a Central Park vigil for the slain musician. The closing lines serve as a stark reminder: “Two people were shot at this Central Park vigil. While you watched this movie, five more of us were murdered; one was the random killing of a stranger.”
“The Killing of America” is a distressing yet essential exploration of violence, societal decay, and the fragility of hope. Its impact reverberates long after the credits roll, urging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about their own society.
