Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
A Kind of Murder
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Lust and murder in pulpy, book-based thriller.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Kind of Murder
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In A KIND OF MURDER, it's the 1960s, and Walter Stackhouse (Patrick Wilson) is a successful architect who's married to the beautiful Clara (Jessica Biel). But he's not happy. Clara is frequently cold to him, and she doesn't care for his hobby: writing crime stories. Walter becomes fascinated by a local bookseller, Kimmel (Eddie Marsan), whose wife has suddenly turned up dead. Walter thinks that Kimmel actually killed her and got away with it. At the same time, he meets the beautiful Ellie (Haley Bennett) and finds himself drawn to her, and he starts to think about what it might be like to have his own wife gone. Unfortunately, Clare does actually disappear, and a detective (Vincent Kartheiser) who's already investigating Kimmel suspects a connection between the two men.
Is It Any Good?
Often, Patricia Highsmith's novels are adapted into high-class affairs, but this thriller feels refreshingly small-time and pulpy, getting closer to the story's raw emotions and impulses. Director Andy Goddard, a veteran of TV shows like Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Daredevil, and Luke Cage, brings a small-screen economy to A Kind of Murder, stripping it to its essentials but still providing plenty of style and rich, 1960s-style atmosphere.
The screenplay by first-timer Susan Boyd feels logical and honest, following characters into emotional traps that make sense; the characters never come across as stupid. And the casting is pitch-perfect, with Wilson as a clean-cut everyman, Bennett as a potentially dangerous beauty, and especially Marsan as the twisted, repressed bookseller and Kartheiser (Mad Men) as the relentless, rodent-like detective. A Kind of Murder could almost be a movie magically transported from the bottom half of a 1960s double-bill to the present day. It's sordid, spiffy fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about A Kind of Murder's violence. Does the relative lack of gore lessen the impact of the violence overall? Do all kinds of media violence have the same impact?
What's the appeal of crime/murder stories? Why does the main character love them, and why do we watch them?
How are drinking and smoking portrayed in the movie? Do the characters enjoy them? Are they part of a social ritual? How does it compare to what you see in movies set in the present day?
Do you think viewers are meant to like these characters, even though they engage in less-than-admirable behavior? Why or why not?
How does this movie compare to others based on Patricia Highsmith's novels?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 16, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: March 21, 2017
- Cast: Patrick Wilson , Haley Bennett , Jessica Biel
- Director: Andy Goddard
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Magnolia Pictures
- Genre: Thriller
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language and some violence
- Last updated: June 21, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate