Lets have a show of hands here, just quote this post and say which option you pick:
1--Sam is a sociopath.
2--This was strictly a one time thing for Sam, a crime of passion where the perfect storm came together and he snapped but otherwise could have went his whole life without being a murderer.
3--Not information to draw a conclusion yet.
I am somewhere between 2 and 3 right now but leaning more towards crime of passion.
I am interested in what the rest of you think so please take a moment to participate.
Thanks.
Monty, I'll pick door number 3.
I'm between 1 and 3 but only in the sense that I think Sam's behavior was anti-social and most likely brought on by detachment due to his upbringing and furthered by desensitization due to immersion in horrorcore etc. I have no background in psychology or such to back that up.
You know I feel sorry for any human being who was not fortunate enough to been brought up with love, touch, affection, proper discipline and guidance. I can't help but feel that lack of those things can do severe damage. However, the fact that not everyone in those circumstances becomes a monster means there is some personal culpability involved. It's just sad all the way around. I'm sorry for Sam and his sister to have parents, and I am confused by a girl like Emma who had seemingly good parents, but wanted to raise hell.
A crime of passion requires adequate provocation, with no cooling off period and words alone cannot suffice as provocation unless they are specific words of information. (sorry just practicing those darn definitions).
I realize that there can be a build up and the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back, but I don't see any provocation that would justify a voluntary manslaughter as you suggest. Any "crime of passion" you may think it is, if it's outside these elements it makes Sam a cold blooded killer - and perhaps each killing was done with a different motivation depending upon either his fanasy or the way the circumstances unfolded once the actions were set in motion.
If this were a crime of passion I would expect him to go after Emma, but not everyone else and not the pastor days later.
To really understand HOW it all happened requires way more information and the HOW, as in the timeline, method, sequence etc., is what will give more insight into motive.