Killer's Kiss

Killer's Kiss (1955)

  • 82% of critics liked it
    (17 reviews)

  • 58% of users liked it
    (6,526 ratings)

Stanley Kubrick's second feature film, Killer's Kiss was made on a budget of $40,000, all raised by Kubrick's relatives. The black-and-white drama was shot principally at night in a variety of seedy Manhattan locations. The plot, told in an extended flashback, covers two days in the life of boxer… More

Unrated, 1 hr. 7 min.
Directed By
Stanley Kubrick
Written By
Stanley Kubrick
Genres
Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1955 Wide
On DVD
May 15, 2001

Critic Reviews

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Kubrick's low-key lensing occasionally catches the flavor of the seamy side of Gotham life.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    A noirish thriller with experimental trimmings that holds back most of the emotions, sensitive as well as otherwise, that threatened to make Kubrick's first feature mawkish.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    Kubrick worked in an uncharacteristically naturalistic style despite the genre material, with mixed but still fascinating results.

  • Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

    Frankly, it's a pretty wretched story, but this small, cheap film has style to spare.

  • Kim Newman, Empire Magazine

    Kubrick's second feature shows his promise as a powerful and iconic director in motifs and style.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jonathan H


    Kubrick's second feature, and first noir, is a thrill to watch, if only to see the seeds of a budding legend be sown in front of your very eyes. Without exaggeration, Killer's Kiss features some of the best deep focus long shots I have ever seen, and the visual… More

  • Melvin W


    Vincent Rapallo: Like the man said, "Can happiness buy money?"  "Her Soft Mouth Was the Road to Sin-Smeared Violence!" I found Stanley Kubrick's second directorial effort, Killer's Kiss, to be a pretty solid film. I enjoyed watching this early work from… More

  • Steven C


    I was really taken aback by "Killer's Kiss;" Stanley Kubrick's ultra-independent second feature. This film is just so obscure, compelling and visceral. The cinematography, by Kubrick himself (he also edited, directed, wrote and produced) is stunning. The film has… More

  • Liam G


    This is a solid noir film with a brilliantly staged finale that is not only unique for its time but is tense throughout. It is nowhere near Kubrick's later masterpieces like A Clockwork Orange and 2001, but it is pretty solid for someone only making their second feature.

  • Randy T


    Kubrick's style is minimalistic and effective in this narrated noir gem that features nobody I'd ever heard of before or since.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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