Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

The Killers (1964)

Average user rating

1 review

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Not exactly a remake of Siodmak's film, but a very similar adaptation of Hemingway's short story, except that the old noir ambience has given way to broad daylight, with the two killers now characterised as corporate executives rather than as emblematic figures from the shadows. Like its predecessor, Siegel's version is at its best while setting up the chillingly ruthless detail of the opening execution (here unnervingly set in an asylum for the blind), less satisfying when it starts providing an answer to the mysterious passivity of the victim (Cassavetes). A familiar tale of robbery and betrayal unfolds, not enhanced by the glossy colour but given a terrific boost by the fact that the two killers stick around (since they now conduct the investigation themselves in the interests of better business efficiency) and are superbly characterised by Marvin and Gulager. Originally made for TV, the film was tactfully switched to cinema release following the JFK assassination.

Author: TM

Time Out Film Guide

Email Tweet Share

User reviews of this film

usman khawaja said...

Posted on Aug 20 2008 08:59 anyone who denies the raw passion and power combined with the furious pacing and editing of this great noir is not really alive,it shows where tarantino gets all his so-called style and origonality from -the origonal source.
the getaway race trek exchamp played with impeccable indifference by cassavettes ,the sly ,malicious and deceiving eve who is the fatal attraction as angie dickinson,and lee marvin in the title role amaze you with ronald reagen for once playing a badman too,
thw score is great as are the locales and the technique is superb ,storytelling at it's lustrous best with smart lines and great sound .
the characters are forbidding and live in a dark yet colorful world of race car treks and armed heists .
the twists are just too amazing to be true and the revenge tale unfolds in reverse with an emotional strength that makes you care for all whether they are good or bad ,
don spiegel made a masterpiece here for not getting into the straight narrative but innovating it with a new ingeniousness that still upholds well after falf a century ,
it still gives a lot of insight into it's characters just with a really cleverly written script and the economising of frames is perfection as it fits into solid 91 minutes so well .
usman khawaja

Report as inappropriate