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Winter Kills

Play trailer Poster for Winter Kills R 1979 1h 37m Comedy Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Inspired by the conspiracy theories surrounding John F. Kennedy's assassination, this comic thriller follows Nick Kegan (Jeff Bridges), the younger brother of a U.S. president killed 19 years earlier. After finding a man claiming to be his brother's second assassin, Nick begins an intricate investigation into the secrets behind the murder. But Nick runs into trouble when his controlling father (John Huston) tries to keep him from uncovering the truth.

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Winter Kills

Winter Kills

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Critics Consensus

A singularly strange roman à clef rich with paranoia and black humor, Winter Kills views the political skullduggery of the late 20th century with a sharp, jaundiced eye.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker 08/12/2023
“Winter Kills” is, above all, an exercise in tone—a crazed, hectic tone that instantly suggests a world irreparably out of whack. What lends the movie substance is the cinematic style that Richert crafts from its dramatic premise. Go to Full Review Peter Sobczynski RogerEbert.com 08/11/2023
4/4
It seems to have grown even bolder with age in its willingness to take on sacred cows in the craziest manner imaginable. Go to Full Review Brad Hanford Slant Magazine 08/08/2023
The history of Winter Kills is nearly as lurid and tangled as the conspiracy it depicts. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Sep 19
1/4
...an often astonishingly misguided bomb that just doesn’t work in the slightest. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 01/23/2024
3/5
…most of the plot elements of Winter Kills have matured over the years, making it something of a hidden gem for anyone with a passing interest in American politics… Go to Full Review Ray Pride Newcity 10/16/2023
10/10
Richert’s deliciously berserk [movie] almost never saw the light of day before its patchy completion and release in 1979; it’s pungent satire, a Kennedy-conspiracy thriller... that must, as has been said, be seen to be disbelieved, Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Chris r Sep 8 Great movie once u understand it’s a comedy lol, but it’s has a good balance of drama moments too. I really liked it. And so many damn movie starts just pop out of nowhere. It’s a treat. See more CodyZamboni Z @CodyZamboni 11/22/2024 Movie starts off crazy, and gets sillier and sillier, and more convoluted, with wackier and wackier characters and situations, It plays like an unintended spoof of conspiracy movies, Top acting talent embarrass themselves, including huge cameos by Elizabeth Taylor and Toshiro Mifune, who both do absolutely nothing, See more Alec B @Alec97 01/09/2024 Even if the final product feels unfinished (which given the troubled production, is understandable) I can appreciate the way the movie both indulges in conspiracy theory tropes and then cheekily undermines them. See more Steve D 08/15/2023 Weird tone, lame story. See more georgan g 05/03/2022 Thought this might have *some* merit, despite the horrible ratings. I was wrong. Other than some good acting, the plot is goofy. See more Ken R 08/22/2020 As soon as you see a cast of big names in a movie that runs under 100mins you can safely say you may be about to be conned. Most of the big names have roles lasting for minutes, then, seen no more! The movies original producers were drug dealers, two were murdered and another jailed for 40yrs. By the end of the film (if you last that long) the so-called ‘satirical' plot leaves you feeling like you've been on a very bad ‘trip'. With a script about as feasible and palatable as Rice Bubbles served with Bilge water it wags doggedly on its weary trail, feeling more and more like a never-ending trial. HUGE money was lost on this sleazy dud and while it looked classy it kept falling over itself, fooling some audiences (but very, very few!) Do yourself a favour and maybe watch The Parallax View instead. See more Read all reviews
Winter Kills

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Cast & Crew

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William Richert

Director

Jeff Bridges

Nick Kegan

John Huston

Pa Kegan

Anthony Perkins

John Cerruti

Sterling Hayden

Z.K. Dawson

Eli Wallach

Joe Diamond

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Winter Kills

Winter Kills (1979) Winter Kills (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Inspired by the conspiracy theories surrounding John F. Kennedy's assassination, this comic thriller follows Nick Kegan (Jeff Bridges), the younger brother of a U.S. president killed 19 years earlier. After finding a man claiming to be his brother's second assassin, Nick begins an intricate investigation into the secrets behind the murder. But Nick runs into trouble when his controlling father (John Huston) tries to keep him from uncovering the truth.
Director
William Richert
Producer
Daniel H. Blatt, Fred C. Caruso
Screenwriter
Richard Condon, William Richert
Distributor
AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production Co
Winter Gold Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 11, 1979, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 11, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$75.6K
Runtime
1h 37m
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