Customer Reviews

Kill Me Again [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Considered from the "outer" point of view, this is a pretty good movie. Well-developed, uniquely-identified, memorable characters; excellent acting by all; crisp, often amusing, dialogue; well-plotted and paced with surprising twists and turns, and a surprising climax. The haunting background music (William Olvis) alone is worth the seeing the movie for.

But it is on the "inner" level that this movie really struck at me. It is set in Nevada (Winnemucca, Reno, Vegas, Overton - "Where's that?" "It's up by Lake Mead") where I lived for many years. [For those of you who have read much spiritual/metaphysical literature, it is no coincidence that the national mecca of "vice" is a "desert experience". This remark is NOT a put-down of Nevada - amidst such sharp natural beauty, our dilemma is sharply drawn there - and that's a plus.]

Somehow the dark, horrifically-empty aspect of modern American life - which is itself especially starkly on view in NV - is precisely nailed by this film. The film might aptly be subtitled - "The Illusion of Love in a Dead Culture like ours". Yes, outwardly, it's about the astonishing betrayals and cruelty everybody - good or bad - will go through to get their hands on the attache case with the mob's money. But inwardly it's about the search for a love that has sunk irretrievably below the surface of one of Nevada's beautiful lakes. If you think this fanciful, tell me this: why, as the winner finally leaves Nevada with the money, was "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" - so movingly sung, torch-style - selected for the final credits? It was, rather, tears that were getting in mine!

Kill me again has never been released in digital formant in US. There is a Japanese Ld long time ago but very hard to get nowadays. So this MGM dvd release is a very good news. This movie is very under rated and didn't get wide release but remains a video favorite. The story has been done before and has been copied all over again on various B movie. About a seductive young woman who used a private detective to fake her death to get away with money she stole from her abusive boyfriend. The DVD is in full screen only and no 5.1 Dolby Digital but for this type of low budget movie probably we don't miss much as the Dolby 2.0 surround is quite good with occasional thunder can be heard from your rear speakers. I would have given it 5 stars if MGM give an English subtitle option (an option that has no longer available for all current MGM DVD releases, what a shame). Get this rare gem, you won't be sorry.

I am no movie buff, but I know a good one when I see it. This movie is akin to 'Red Rock West' with Nick Cage, or 'The eye of God', and 'Clay Pigeons' with Vince Vaughn. I even added it to my scrappy (less than 20) video collction, and that's saying a lot! The only thing missing is a score from Chris Isaac.

40's style noir played against sunny Nevada desert and vicious gambling dens. Val Kilmer is too boyish to bring off the classic role of private eye, but at least he doesn't try to act tough while being slapped around or thrown like a rag doll over a series of chairs and tables. In fact his Jack Andrews gets pushed around by almost everyone in what amounts to one of the most feckless of all movie private eyes. His every move seems to either flop or backfire. He's seldom in charge of any encounter, and in that important regard, the movie stands as a genuine oddity to the genre. Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, looking like a trampy Natalie Wood, is reasonably convincing as the femme fatale, squealing delightedly whenever she's roughed up. Then there's villainous Michael Madsen, looking like Elvis's spooky older brother, who steals the show with a series of scary outbursts that are totally convincing. Despite the negative review, there're enough twists and turns to keep viewers guessing. And while Kill Me Again is no classic of noir filmmaking, it does stand as a reasonably successful low-budget entry.

Brett Johnson's review of this movie is about right. I rate it much higher though. Even though this show follows many other formulas, for the type of show it is I think it's at about the top of its class. At least it's a movie I want to keep and watch from time to time. I can't say that about alot of the shows I've bought. The ending isn't that good but most movies don't come up with good endings. Michael Madsen is his usual cruel self (as in "Reservoir Dogs") and is even raunchier. Val Kilmer plays many different parts well. Maybe he isn't so believable as a private "I" but still, for the kind of show it is I give it a thumbs up.

There's no other master of the modern film noir thriller than John Dahl. "Kill Me Again" has all the classic elements of the genre and Dahl's stylistic, sharp direction with strong performances from the cast. Although it starts off strong it does lose a bit of momentum towards the last third of the movie as the lovers go on the run. Private eye Jack Andrews (Val Kilmer)has fallen into a world of booze and loan sharks after the accidently death of his wife. He has three days to pay back a pair of loan sharks before they break his body to match his broken spirit. With no clients and little in the way of prospects it appears that Jack is doomed.


That's when Fay (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer)walks through the door. Her ex-con boyfriend is out to get her because she made off with the money they stole. She's looking for a way out and she and Jack may be each other's salvation. She offers Jack $10,000 to help her fake her death so that her psycho boyfriend Vince (Michael Madsen)won't hunt her down and kill her. Jack does his job all too well. When Fay really disappears after her "faked" murder he becomes a suspect. Jack desperately searches for her in hopes getting his money and getting away with "murder".


I'd definitely recommend getting this title before it disappears (it's not exactly in the top 10 much less the top 1000 popular titles)but have to caution viewers not to expect much in the way of extras. A well made film noir that will keep you interested with all its twists and turns, this isn't Dahl's best film nor is it MGM's best DVD. Presented pretty much bare bones in full screen(like Dahl's classic "The Last Seduction"), the film looks solid but is definite need of an overall and re-release on DVD. We do get the original theatrical trailer as the only extra but the fact that it isn't presented in widescreen (or at least in both full and widescreen like "Red Rock West")is a crime.

Here's hoping that this one of the titles MGM/UA revamps for re-release soon. It certainly deserves a commentary track by Dahl (maybe even Kilmer will pipe in). It also deserves at the very least a featurette for fans of the film. This isn't a bad DVD (although it could look better); it just deserved a whole lot more than this bare bone presentation.

One of the best neo-noirs. The plot resembles 'Out of the Past', and in my opinion, it rivals it. The magnificent Nevada's desert locations are very impressive and fit the convoluted story line. Another example that film noir is not all big city stuff, but a stylish and atmospheric presentation of protagonists in trouble.

One of Val Kilmer's most underrated pictures, this is an exciting movie that I thoroughly enjoyed...Good plot, good acting. If however, coarse language offends you, beware.

I loved it and have watched it again and aagain
each time i enjoy it more
excellent from start to finish

First, I have to admit to being a big Val Kilmer fan......I just hope he quits trying to imitate Marlon Brando as far as his physique is going.
Good movie with no real surprises but was very entertaining. Did I mention that I was a sap for Val Kilmer? I even enjoyed, though was sickened because of the movies director, Kilmers role as Jim Morrison in the "Doors" movie directed by the disgusting, treasonous, blatantly Stalinist Oliver Stone.....or at least I enjoyed watching Kilmers take on the "Lizard King" in that movie.
This movie didn't leave me with a sour taste in my mouth because of its director and was thoroughly entertaining...I really enjoyed it. Thanks again Mr. Kilmer!!