The Killing (1956)

The Killing

• Say, this Kubrick guy is pretty good at making movies! Joking aside, this Kubrick guy is pretty good at making movies. This film is basically the first version of ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, which came out a few years later after this one’s release. However, this is a much more simplified, quickly paced film. But it has the same amount of twists and turns. The element that truly makes this stick out is the non-linear storytelling, which from my perspective, is genius. A lot of the time, it can be confusing and edited weirdly, so you’re constantly scratching your head, trying to figure out what’s happening. In this instance, despite the quick pacing, you get just enough knowledge from the scene, and then it jumps over to someone else, at a different time and place. Ultimately, everything builds up to the main heist, and from there, you have all the pieces you need to finish the story. The way the story is written, and the way it bounces around, makes this an extremely memorable thriller. It might not please everyone, but it certainly pleases me. There’s nothing Kubrick can’t do. The cast was also quite memorable, even though the performances aren’t anything extravagant. I love how most everyone was portrayed by an actor I didn’t know, which made each character feel all more real. Sometimes an unknown, unfamiliar cast is a lot more effective than a stacked cast. Shout-out to Elisha Cook though, I know his face anywhere. Despite being shot in the late 50s in black and white (and in a fast, figuratively jerky sense), everything was very vivid and each character always stood out. It has such a wonderful noir look to it, and the visuals checked every box for me. Last (but not least), is the suspenseful and anxiety inducing score. Even though it’s nothing we haven’t heard before, it felt constantly present and helped push every scene right into your face, so you couldn’t help but pay attention and be invested. Of every film I’ve ever seen, this one is maybe a top twenty of most effective scores. Again, it doesn’t differ hugely from other crime/thrillers, especially in this specific era, but my goodness it does it’s job of adding crazy depth and intense feeling. Overall, this is a fantastic film that goes by really quickly, but still delivers in every department. I would recommend it to all crime/thriller fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!