MovieChat Forums > Easy Rider (1969) Discussion > So was the shooting accidental? (spoiler...

So was the shooting accidental? (spoilers)

posted 15 years ago by sth78
55 replies | jump to latest

It's been a while since I saw this movie, but I seem to remember that the two hillbillies in the truck only intended to scare the bikers with the shotgun. Did the first shot go off by accident? It never stroke me as a deliberate murder, but again, it's been a while.

Even if the first shot was by accident, it still makes sense for the hillbillies to execute Peter Fonda's character on purpose, because once they've killed one person, it is not much difference in punishment for having killed two, and obviously, they'd got rid off any witnesses that way. On the other hand, they didn't go back to finish the deal, and Wyatt was still alive after being shot.

Anyone who has the movie fresh in mind, who can clear this matter up for me? Thanks.

[–] Etherdave (175) 10 months ago

How does it even matter? Two good ol' boys, rampaging around the county in a pickup truck, armed with shotguns, is simply a symbol of personal freedom and individuality. One might say these two are out to discover America, albeit in their own ignorant, uneducated, sociopathic way. The important thing is the sudden, awful collision of different people's concepts of personal freedom and individuality, and how it is used in the film to complete the doomed, hopeless journey of the two protagonists. It's a fitting testament to this film's screenplay that it still shocks viewers to this day.

[–] seventiesoutlaw (1) 21 days ago

just watched the movie again last night. billy (dennis hopper) is apparently shot by accident but wyatt (peter fonda) is killed on purpose. no witnesses sort of thing. let me play devil's advocate for a moment. Wyatt never actually witness the shooting, he just heard the gunshot. all of the participants were white so there was no racial malice. if questioned then the sheriff would most likely take the rednecks's side. perhaps like george hanson (jack nicholson), billy & captain america (wyatt) were in the wrong place at the wrong time. the redneck holding the 12 gauge did seem surprised that it went off but i suppose only the late dennis hopper knew what he was going for at the end of the movie.