Killer's Kiss

You've got to admire Stanley Kubrick. The man only made thirteen films during his forty-six years in Hollywood, and each one of them deemed him a revolutionary to the world of film.

It's clear with his second film Killer's Kiss. The many foundations of his later work can be seen here. The thin line between good and evil. Characters that are next to impossible sympathize for. You know, the standard Kubrick spec.

The film clocks in at 67 minutes, but Kubrick manages to get in an effective story, though not among his more famous work. He does however get in a few noir cliches but adds new variations on them. (Hey, it's only his second film. Give him slack.)

Much like Sidney Lumet, Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese in the years to come, Kubrick treats his hometown of New York City as one of the characters. The hustle and bustle of the city adds gravitas to the story. He knew this city and was going to show it the way he saw it.

Killer's Kiss is good though not particularly memorable. Had it been, say, twenty minutes longer I'd be singing a very different tune. Still, the most crucial aspect in the long run is that the following year, Kubrick made it big.

My Rating: ****1/2