A Kiss Before Dying
A Kiss Before Dying

A Kiss Before Dying

1991
Movie
95 min
English

Infatuated with the idea of becoming rich, college student Jonathan Corliss secretly dates Dorothy Carlsson to gain the approval of her wealthy father. When Dorothy tells Jonathan that she is pregnant and that her father will deny her inheritance if he finds out, Jonathan murders her, but he stages her death as a suicide. As Jonathan works his way onto Mr. Carlsson's payroll, Dorothy's twin sister, Ellen, investigates the apparent suicide.

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Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes38%
Google Users45%
Director: James DeardenGenres: Thriller, Crime, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

Budding architect Jonathan Corbett murders his wealthy fiancée, Dorothy, when he learns she is pregnant and her twin sister, Ellen, is the only heir to the family fortune. He attempts to woo Ellen to gain access to the inheritance, but Ellen, who suspects foul play, begins to investigate her sister's death. Corbett must race against time and Ellen's suspicions to secure the fortune before his deception is exposed.

Critical Reception

A Kiss Before Dying received generally negative reviews from critics, who found its plot convoluted and its characters unconvincing. While some praised the film's suspenseful elements and Dillon's performance, most felt it failed to live up to its potential as a taut thriller.

What Reviewers Say

  • While containing moments of suspense, the film's convoluted plot and underdeveloped characters detract from its thriller elements.
  • Matt Dillon's dual performance is noted, but often overshadowed by the predictability and contrivances of the narrative.
  • Critics found the remake lacking the impact and style of the original film, ultimately failing to deliver a compelling thriller.

Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a mixed reception, with some appreciating the suspenseful premise and Matt Dillon's performance. However, many found the plot difficult to follow, the characters unbelievable, and the overall execution disappointing, leading to a generally lukewarm response.

Fun Fact

The film is a remake of the 1956 film of the same name, which was directed by Gerd Oswald and starred Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
tmdb28039023

tmdb28039023

Jonathan (Matt Dillon) is obssessed with inheriting Thor Carlsson’s (the majestic Max von Sydow) copper empire. Why? Presumably, because as a poor child literally living on the wrong side of the tracks, he would sit in his room and stare at...
John Chard

John Chard

Kiss of life required to ignite this film noir re-imaging. A remake of the 1956 film of the same name, A Kiss Before Dying is directed by James Dearden and Dearden adapts the screenplay from Ira Levin's novel. It stars Sean Young, Matt D...