I Want To Kill You Like They do In The Movies

Marilyn Manson's song "I Want To Kill You Like They do In The Movies" delves into the dark and twisted realms of fantasy, violence, and the blurred lines between reality and performance. The lyrics are laden with cinematic references, portraying a relationship as a film set where both parties are merely actors playing their roles. The repeated phrases like "Line up, Roll camera, You pretend, I'll pretend" emphasize the performative nature of the relationship, suggesting that the emotions and actions are not genuine but rather scripted and rehearsed.

The metaphor of wanting to kill someone "like they do in the movies" serves as a powerful image of detachment and desensitization. In films, violence is often glamorized and devoid of real consequences, and Manson uses this to illustrate a sense of emotional numbness and the cyclical nature of destructive relationships. The line "Everytime I kill you I'm really just killing myself" reveals a deeper layer of self-destruction and internal conflict, indicating that the harm inflicted on others is a reflection of the artist's own pain and turmoil.

Manson's use of vivid and unsettling imagery, such as "I'm a strip, strip, strip, and I flicker, flick, flick, flick" and "There's so much, much, much more skin to break," further enhances the song's eerie and macabre atmosphere. The references to immortality and the afterlife being "poorly scored" suggest a disillusionment with the idea of eternal life and a longing for an end to suffering. The song ultimately portrays a bleak and nihilistic view of relationships, where love is confused with violence and pleasure is intertwined with pain. Manson's distinctive style, characterized by its provocative and controversial themes, is evident throughout the song, making it a compelling and thought-provoking piece.