A KISS BEFORE DYING - 1991
A KISS BEFORE DYING - AN ENTRANCING TASTE OF FILM NOIR
A Kiss Before Dying is a small film that owes much of it's style to Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock's presence is felt heavily here, so much in fact that scenes from some of his classic films are incorporated into this film. It's evident that Director, James Deardon was influenced by the master of suspense but he does manage to successfully create new elements of suspense as well as taking a few old ones from Sir Alfred himself.
The film begins with college gal, Dorothy Carlsson (Sean Young) going to meet her secret lover, Jonathan Corliss (Matt Dillon) to be married. Instead of exchanging wedding vows, Dorothy takes a plunge from the rooftop of City Hall thanks to her mysterious fiancee. The audience learns Corliss has a fixation with Dorothy's father, copper magnate Thor Carlsson (Max Von Sydow) which stretches back to his troubled youth. Corliss is intent on becoming a member of the Carlsson family and begins romancing Dorothy's sister, Ellen (Sean Young in a dual role), a social worker who doesn't care about her father's money.
Ellen doesn't believe police reports which indicate Dorothy committed suicide. Ellen decides to start uo her own investigation into her sister's death. She learns that Dorothy was seeing someone but one by one before any of Dorohty's friends can identify her mysterious lover they are murdered.
The film is short on surprises with the audience knowing more than the characters which is exactly how Hitchcock preferred to work. The intriguing characters and haunting sets give the film the feel of a 1940's film noir motion picture.
Dillon manages to deliver a haunting performance as the homicidal Corliss troubled by his isolated youth. That gentle, devilish grin of his is brilliant! Young is excellent as the strong, independent Ellen. She deomostrates a vunerability and humanity with her role which brings a welcomed freshness to the film. The excellent supporting cast includes Max Von Sydow as the strong willed father, James Russo as the frustrated private investigator, and Diane Ladd as Corliss's sympathetic mother.
A Kiss Before Dying is a film where you can overlook the few negative aspects of the film since the intriguing characters, powerful performances, and jolting climax overrife them. What more can I say but go see it and this will be one of the most riveting 90 minutes you'll experience at the movies.
A Kiss Before Dying is a small film that owes much of it's style to Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock's presence is felt heavily here, so much in fact that scenes from some of his classic films are incorporated into this film. It's evident that Director, James Deardon was influenced by the master of suspense but he does manage to successfully create new elements of suspense as well as taking a few old ones from Sir Alfred himself.
The film begins with college gal, Dorothy Carlsson (Sean Young) going to meet her secret lover, Jonathan Corliss (Matt Dillon) to be married. Instead of exchanging wedding vows, Dorothy takes a plunge from the rooftop of City Hall thanks to her mysterious fiancee. The audience learns Corliss has a fixation with Dorothy's father, copper magnate Thor Carlsson (Max Von Sydow) which stretches back to his troubled youth. Corliss is intent on becoming a member of the Carlsson family and begins romancing Dorothy's sister, Ellen (Sean Young in a dual role), a social worker who doesn't care about her father's money.
Ellen doesn't believe police reports which indicate Dorothy committed suicide. Ellen decides to start uo her own investigation into her sister's death. She learns that Dorothy was seeing someone but one by one before any of Dorohty's friends can identify her mysterious lover they are murdered.
The film is short on surprises with the audience knowing more than the characters which is exactly how Hitchcock preferred to work. The intriguing characters and haunting sets give the film the feel of a 1940's film noir motion picture.
Dillon manages to deliver a haunting performance as the homicidal Corliss troubled by his isolated youth. That gentle, devilish grin of his is brilliant! Young is excellent as the strong, independent Ellen. She deomostrates a vunerability and humanity with her role which brings a welcomed freshness to the film. The excellent supporting cast includes Max Von Sydow as the strong willed father, James Russo as the frustrated private investigator, and Diane Ladd as Corliss's sympathetic mother.
A Kiss Before Dying is a film where you can overlook the few negative aspects of the film since the intriguing characters, powerful performances, and jolting climax overrife them. What more can I say but go see it and this will be one of the most riveting 90 minutes you'll experience at the movies.
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