Killing Me Softly (2002)

0% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(7,764 ratings)

The director of such highly regarded films as Yellow Earth (1984) and Farewell, My Concubine (1993), Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige makes his English-language debut with this erotic thriller adapted from the novel by Nicci French. Alice (Heather Graham) is an American Web designer living in Illinois… More The director of such highly regarded films as Yellow Earth (1984) and Farewell, My Concubine (1993), Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige makes his English-language debut with this erotic thriller adapted from the novel by Nicci French. Alice (Heather Graham) is an American Web designer living in Illinois who falls for a ruggedly handsome mountain climber named Adam (Joseph Fiennes). Bored with her dull love live, sparks begin to fly when Alice and Adam have a chance meeting at a stoplight, and it isn't long before the couple are living together and Adam proposes. With their heated romance taking on hints of mild S & M following their wedding, Alice's realization that she knows very little about her new spouse begins to take on ominous undertones when she discovers that his former fiancée died under mysterious circumstances. Allegations of rape and more missing lovers soon prompt Alice to continue her increasingly disturbing investigation toward answers she may not be ready to accept. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Kaige Chen
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Mar 25, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Mar 25, 2003
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

David Rooney, Variety
A turgid erotic thriller that plays like Zalman King-meets-vintage Brian De Palma without the latter's wit or style.
Mark Adams, Hollywood Reporter
What a great shame that such a talented director as Chen Kaige has chosen to make his English-language debut with a film so poorly plotted and scripted.
Nathan Rabin, AV Club
As Graham attempts to uncover the truth about his past, the film grows increasingly convoluted, leading to a twist ending that will come as a surprise only to those who've never seen a Shannon Tweed movie.
, Total Film
The screenplay (based on Nicci French's novel) is cringeworthy, and Kaige's inability to spot when English-speaking thesps are reciting rather than acting produces scenes that vary from lifeless to laughable.
Robert Pardi, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Why, you might ask, is master director Chen Kaige wasting his time on such trashy material?
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
What a disappointing waste of good talent!
, Empire Magazine
A hilariously bad movie that has to be seen to be believed.
, Time Out
Inane and shopworn material with a truly cheesy final twist, this is made excruciating by direction that takes it all deadly seriously.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
It's pretty campy-silly, but it's surprisingly watchable for some reason, maybe because of the name-brand actors sleazing it in this Skinemax would-be classic.
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
Though its rather routine script is loaded with familiar situations, the movie has a cinematic fluidity and sense of intelligence that makes it work more than it probably should.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Spectacularly awful film that's actually funnier than many so-called comedies.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Turkeys don't come plumper than this.
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic
Fails so fundamentally on every conventional level that it achieves some kind of goofy grandeur.
, FilmFour.com
A risible drama, torpedoed by lifeless performances, a muddled screenplay and anonymous direction.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Sarah G

Utter trash but I somehow managed to gte through this because I focussed on how lovely Joesph Fiennes looks in this film ^_^ However, it's poorly directed, acted, written..the list is endless. Would recomend this is Joesh Fiennes films but besides that avoid it at all costs.… More
Utter trash but I somehow managed to gte through this because I focussed on how lovely Joesph Fiennes looks in this film ^_^ However, it's poorly directed, acted, written..the list is endless. Would recomend this is Joesh Fiennes films but besides that avoid it at all costs. Just terrible.
Daisy M

Well, I had to review this film like this, whether the plot was the most sophisticated thriller, or whether the love scenes were copied from another film it was beside the point. Every woman would like to meet a man like Joseph Fiennes' character and be swept off her feet and… More
Well, I had to review this film like this, whether the plot was the most sophisticated thriller, or whether the love scenes were copied from another film it was beside the point. Every woman would like to meet a man like Joseph Fiennes' character and be swept off her feet and have great sex and all the attention in the world. I think most of those who did not like the film must be men cause they know, they' don't have the guts to be a man like that... ( i m kidding) well, I recommend this film as a truly romantic love story and the kinky sex was also not the point of the story. Girls, u will really love this film and Joseph Fiennes is, of course wonderfully gorgeous and convincing and lovable in every scene, and Heather Graham was beautiful. The wedding night idea was absolutely brilliant. ( hi hi )
Leo L

This is an interesting movie with Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes. A bit on the surprising side, but the story plot was intriguing.