A Kind of Murder

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2:22

A Kind of Murder

R

Released Dec 16, 2016

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

35%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

15%

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500+ Ratings

Walter Stackhouse is rich, successful and unhappily married to the beautiful but damaged Clara. His desire to be free of her feeds his obsession with Kimmel, a man suspected of brutally murdering his own wife. When Walter and Kimmel's lives become dangerously intertwined, a ruthless police detective becomes convinced he has found the murderer. But as the lines blur between innocence and intent, who, in fact, is the real killer?

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

[Director Andy Goddard] just doesn't develop a level of intrigue or tension that you'd expect from a narrative that is built on double identities, perceptions, classism, and homicide.

Rated: D

Mar 21, 2017

Full Review

John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

A handsome period piece that plays more like a scant-clues mystery than like the psychological thriller it intends to be.

Dec 15, 2016

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Alissa Wilkinson

Vox

Good source material does not guarantee a good movie, and A Kind of Murder, a new Highsmith adaptation directed by Andy Goddard from a screenplay by Susan Boyd, is not a good movie.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 15, 2016

Full Review

Jason Adams

The Film Experience

There were moments of such monumental airlessness, as if a plastic sofa cover was wrapped over every scene

Jul 2, 2021

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Matt Pais

MattPais.com

Less cat-and-mouse than cat-and-mirror. The movie just sits there, proud to look pretty, not really doing anything.

Rated: C-

Jun 10, 2020

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Where A Kind of Murder excels is with one of the key themes found in Patricia Highsmith's novel - ambiguity - the success of which comes primarily thanks to Patrick Wilson in his performance as Walter Stackhouse.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 30, 2019

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Rob A

This one's a miss. Lame title; a script with plenty of holes in it and a confused, anticlimactic ending. Patrick Wilson's schtick has also worn thin. (Haley Bennett was a bright spot.)

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/01/24

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edith r

disappointing, confusing ending, nice costumes

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/25/23

Full Review

Kyle J

Good idea for a story, but an even more honest approach would have been better. Have more possible suspects. No character acted stupidly to serve the plot. Leave out the blonde mistress. Decide for yourself about the ending.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

John M

Suspenseful, well acted.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

jelisije j

A long slow burn movie that really doesn't get going until the last 15 min of an hour and 30 minute movie.....

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Let me just start off by saying that Jessica Biel's acting here was pure sewage. This is why her acting career failed-- because she can't act, pure and simple. But I was genuinely drawn into this story. I think the ending was a bit of a fizzle for me, but I think I get it. I think I get why it's called 'a kind of murder'-- perhaps hinting at killing a person without actually doing the deed personally. So... I get it, but I'm still left wanting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Andy Goddard

Director

Patrick Wilson

Walter Stackhouse

Haley Bennett

Ellie

Jessica Biel

Clara Stackhouse

Eddie Marsan

Kimmel

Vincent Kartheiser

Detective Lawrence Corby

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A Kind of Murder: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Walter Stackhouse is rich, successful and unhappily married to the beautiful but damaged Clara. His desire to be free of her feeds his obsession with Kimmel, a man suspected of brutally murdering his own wife. When Walter and Kimmel's lives become dangerously intertwined, a ruthless police detective becomes convinced he has found the murderer. But as the lines blur between innocence and intent, who, in fact, is the real killer?

Director: Andy Goddard
Producer: Susan Boyd, Ted Hope, Kelly McCormick, Christine Vachon
Screenwriter: Susan Boyd
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Killer Films, Blue PM
Rating: R (Some Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 21, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0K
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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