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A Kind of Murder

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A Kind of Murder
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndy Goddard
Written bySusan Boyd
Based onThe Blunderer
by Patricia Highsmith
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChris Seager
Edited by
  • Jane Rizzo
  • Elisabet Ronaldsdottir
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byMagnolia Pictures
Release dates
  • April 17, 2016 (2016-04-17) (Tribeca)
  • December 16, 2016 (2016-12-16) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$91,149

A Kind of Murder is an American murder mystery and psychological thriller directed by Andy Goddard from a screenplay by Susan Boyd based upon the 1954 Patricia Highsmith novel The Blunderer. It stars Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, Vincent Kartheiser, Haley Bennett, and Eddie Marsan. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2016[1] and was released in the United States on December 16, 2016, by Magnolia Pictures.

Plot

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Walter Stackhouse is an architect by day and an aspiring writer of short-story crime fiction by night who is fascinated by the recent murder of a local woman. He pays a visit to Kimmel, the deceased woman's husband, at his used bookstore, pretending to be a customer looking for a book on architecture, but Kimmel's suspicions are aroused. Stackhouse has a troubled marriage, and his own wife, Clara, turns up dead as a result of an apparent suicide, not far from the restaurant parking lot where Kimmel's wife was murdered. Corby, the police detective investigating both deaths, suspects that the respective husbands are guilty of murder and that there is a connection between them. We learn in flashbacks that Clara's accusations of infidelity were justified, as Walter had indeed started an affair with nightclub singer Ellie Briess, and that Walter may have subtly suggested to Clara that she follow through on her threats to commit suicide. Ellie Briess tells Walter of her concern over previous remarks of his indicating that he would welcome Clara's death. Corby increases the pressure on the two suspects, successfully inciting Kimmel against Stackhouse by accusing the latter of being a copycat killer who will somehow incriminate him. Through another flashback we learn that Kimmel did indeed murder his wife although no revelation is forthcoming that Walter had murdered Clara.

The film concludes with Kimmel and Corby following Stackhouse to the nightclub where Ellie works. When Stackhouse tries to flee, Corby and Kimmel, together with attending police detectives, chase Stackhouse into the nightclub's underground passageways. Kimmel kills an officer, having mistaken him for Stackhouse. Realizing his error, Kimmel corners Stackhouse and attempts to stab him. The police fatally shoot Kimmel. Stackhouse, lying on the ground wounded, gradually manages a smile as he contemplates the relationship between fiction and reality.

In the movie's final shot, a typewriter clatters out the words "THE END."

Cast

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Production

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In February 2013, it was revealed that Andy Goddard had been attached to direct the film, from a screenplay by Susan Boyd, with Ted Hope, Christine Vachon, and Kelly McCormick producing under their Killer Films and Sierra Pictures banner, respectively.[2] In May 2014, it was announced that Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, Imogen Poots and Toby Jones had been cast in the film.[3] In November 2014, Haley Bennett joined the cast of the film, replacing Poots.[4] That same month, Eddie Marsan joined the cast of the film, replacing Jones.[5] In August 2015, the film's title was changed from "The Blunderer" to "A Kind of Murder".[6]

Filming

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Principal photography began on November 17, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio, under the title "The Blunderer".[7][8][9] In December 2014, a casting call was put out for 1950 cars, and male extras.[10][11] Production concluded on December 16, 2014.[12]

Post-production

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In June 2015, it was reported that Saunder Jurriaans and Danny Bensi had composed the score for the film.[13]

Release

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The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2016.[14][15] Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film.[16] The film was released on December 16, 2016.[17]

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 35% based on reviews from 17 critics.[18] On Metacritic the film has a score of 50% based on reviews from 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[19]

Nick Schager of Variety wrote: "While thrills are mitigated by convoluted plotting and suspect character behavior, the film's uniquely bleak twist on classic noir conventions is enlivening."[20]

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter called it "A handsome period piece that plays more like a scant-clues mystery than like the psychological thriller it intends to be."[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "A Kind of Murder". TribecaFilm.com. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  2. ^ Team, The Deadline (February 22, 2013). "Andy Goddard To Helm 'The Blunderer'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  3. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 8, 2014). "Cannes: Patricia Highsmith Novel 'The Blunderer' Lands Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel Atop Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  4. ^ Kit, Borys (November 18, 2014). "Haley Bennett Joins Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel in Psychological Thriller (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  5. ^ Yamato, Jen (November 25, 2014). "Broadway's Lesli Margherita Joins 'One Shot'; Eddie Marsan Cast In 'The Blunderer' Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  6. ^ "Jessica Biel's "The Blunderer" Becomes "A Kind of Murder"". Jessica-Biel.com. August 8, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "On the Set for 11/24/14: Natalie Portman Wraps Up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Point Break Swims to Shore & More". Ssninsider.com. November 24, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  8. ^ Kiesewetter, John (November 18, 2014). "Meet the stars of 'The Blunderer'". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  9. ^ Mains, Brian (October 29, 2014). "The Blunderer" becomes third Hollywood film shot in Cincinnati in 2014". Wcpo.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  10. ^ Kiesewetter, John (December 8, 2014). "'The Blunderer' needs more 1950s cars". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  11. ^ Kiesewetter, John (December 9, 2014). "U da man? 'The Blunderer' needs male extras". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "On the Set for 12/19/14: Emilia Clarke Wraps Voice from the Stone, Idris Elba Finishes Up Bastille Day & More". Ssninsider.com. December 22, 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  13. ^ "Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans to score The Blunderer". Filmmusicreporter.com. June 30, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "A Kind of Murder". TribecaFilm.com. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  15. ^ "TRIBECA 2016 ANNOUNCES LINEUPS FOR SPOTLIGHT, MIDNIGHT, SPECIAL SCREENINGS, AND TRIBECA/ESPN SPORTS FILM FESTIVAL". TribecaFilm.com. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  16. ^ "A Kind of Murder". Magnolia Pictures. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  17. ^ "A Kind of Murder". Movie Insider. August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  18. ^ "A Kind of Murder (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  19. ^ "A Kind of Murder". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  20. ^ Schager, Nick (22 April 2016). "Film Review: 'A Kind of Murder'". Variety.
  21. ^ DeFore, John (April 18, 2016). "'A Kind of Murder': Tribeca Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Valence Media.
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