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Winter Kills

Play trailer Poster for Winter Kills R Released May 11, 1979 1h 37m Comedy Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 53% 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.
Winter Kills

What to Know

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 “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. Aug 12, 2023 Full Review Peter Sobczynski RogerEbert.com It seems to have grown even bolder with age in its willingness to take on sacred cows in the craziest manner imaginable. Rated: 4/4 Aug 11, 2023 Full Review Brad Hanford Slant Magazine The history of Winter Kills is nearly as lurid and tangled as the conspiracy it depicts. Aug 8, 2023 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …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… Rated: 3/5 Jan 23, 2024 Full Review Ray Pride Newcity 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, Rated: 10/10 Oct 16, 2023 Full Review Jason Delgado Film Threat Cult classic status, not quite, but an oddity that definitely deserves to be seen. Rated: 7/10 Aug 22, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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CodyZamboni Z 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, Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Alec B 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/09/24 Full Review Steve D Weird tone, lame story. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/15/23 Full Review georgan g Thought this might have *some* merit, despite the horrible ratings. I was wrong. Other than some good acting, the plot is goofy. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Ken R 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. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/22/20 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review 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