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The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

Play trailer 1:02 Poster for The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Released Sep 17, 2021 1h 23m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain tells the true story of the final hours of the life of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African-American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were sent to his home to check on him, when his medical alert device was mistakenly activated. Despite Chamberlain informing the officers there was a mistake and he did not have an emergency, they were recorded taunting him, ridiculing his military service, howling racial epithets at him, and finally, the officers broke his door down and shot him to death.
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The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

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Critics Consensus

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain draws on harrowing real-life events -- and Frankie Faison's remarkable performance -- for a scathing rebuke to a systemic failure.

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Critics Reviews

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Leslie Felperin Guardian One of the film’s more audacious qualities is that it just leaves [the] debate to us, choosing to simply depict the events as gathered from investigators and witnesses. Rated: 4/5 May 4, 2022 Full Review Lisa Kennedy Variety Writer-director David Midell and actor Frankie Faison have delivered a taut, emotionally excruciating drama based on the police shooting of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. in White Plains, N.Y. Dec 13, 2021 Full Review Valerie Complex Deadline Hollywood Daily I can say that Frankie Faison illuminates an otherwise empty, hollow film. Dec 5, 2021 Full Review Dallas King The People's Movies This is a film that will make you angry, and rightly so... an incredibly powerful, visceral piece of storytelling and one of the best films of the year. Rated: 5/5 Nov 13, 2022 Full Review Carla Renata The Curvy Film Critic The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain is a glaring, emotionally turbulent reminder of how Black lives have been snuffed and discarded like yesterday's trash.  Frankie Faison is remarkable May 1, 2022 Full Review Robert Denerstein Denerstein Unleashed Midell's decision to film in a single room and in the cramped hallway outside Chamberlain's apartment creates 81 minutes of claustrophobic tension. Jan 28, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deb Howard The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr is a must see. Brilliant writing, great actor portrayal. I know the family of Mr Chamberlain personally and I’m glad the story is finally being told. Faison did an amazing job portraying Mr. Chamberlain!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/19/21 Full Review patricia It was so sad yet very exciting. Frankie Faison's portrayal of Kenneth Chamberlain was amazing. The script kept you on edge throughout the movie. At the end they played the audio of the actual event which was very impactful. When I left the theater I was emotional and exhausted. Everyone who believes in social justice must see this movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/21 Full Review Drew H This has to be one of the best short movies I have ever watched. It will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. The suspense is on a new level that I have never had the experience from any other movie. The factual words at the end are a disgrace in a way you can only make your own mind up on. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/13/24 Full Review N even today there are still so many bad people working within the law and justice system that are racist homophobic and prejudice around the world there are still bad people in these services we are suppose to trust best we can do just record and share every incident like this that happens and educate those that listen that it is so wrong to hate anybody just because who they are it so wrong to attack and judge others we must stand by those who do do right and fight for a world of peace and true justice what happened to this man is very very wrong and it made me so upset to know this happened that's not the world I want to live in and that's not what I stand for I hope those involved have learned you can't silence the truth or those to fight to seek justice for him it will never go away and it will never be forgotten. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/11/23 Full Review L L excellent performance Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/30/23 Full Review michael j This is the type of lying, anti cop, BS that puts policemen's lives in danger....the portrayal in the film is NOTHING close to the actual FACTS of what happened. The official report is online at the U.S. Attorneys office for ALL to see....Kenneth had a knife when they police entered as was saying he was going to kill them, cussing at them like a mad man...there was also ZERO proof of a racial slur. Utter BS. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

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Cast & Crew

Shot 56% 56% Shot Watchlist TRAILER for Shot Retaliation 75% 51% Retaliation Watchlist TRAILER for Retaliation The Drowning 46% 18% The Drowning Watchlist TRAILER for The Drowning Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain tells the true story of the final hours of the life of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African-American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed during a conflict with police officers who were sent to his home to check on him, when his medical alert device was mistakenly activated. Despite Chamberlain informing the officers there was a mistake and he did not have an emergency, they were recorded taunting him, ridiculing his military service, howling racial epithets at him, and finally, the officers broke his door down and shot him to death.
Director
David Midell
Producer
David Midell, Enrico Natale
Screenwriter
David Midell
Distributor
Gravitas Ventures
Production Co
Redbird Entertainment, Marginal Mediaworks, Revelations Entertainment
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 17, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 17, 2021
Runtime
1h 23m
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