Five Minutes to Live
Five Minutes to Live

Movie spotlight

Five Minutes to Live

1961
Movie
73 min
English

A guitar playing killer terrorizes a housewife while his partner robs the bank where her husband works.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Director: Bill KarnGenres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

Plot Summary

A ruthless killer, known only as 'The Kid', attempts to extort a large sum of money from a successful businessman, Frank Oliver, by threatening to murder his wife. The Kid has five minutes to get in and out of the Oliver residence undetected. Oliver must scramble to find a way to save his wife and bring the criminal to justice before time runs out.

Critical Reception

Despite its low budget and direct-to-video release, 'Five Minutes to Live' has garnered a cult following for its suspenseful premise and the unique inclusion of Johnny Cash in a villainous role. While not a critical darling upon its initial release, its taut pacing and Cash's menacing performance have led to appreciation from genre fans.

What Reviewers Say

  • Suspenseful cat-and-mouse thriller with a unique premise.

  • Johnny Cash delivers a surprisingly effective and chilling performance as the villain.

  • Relies heavily on tension and pacing to overcome its B-movie origins.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for this older film, but those who have seen it often praise its effective suspense and Johnny Cash's departure from his typical heroic roles.

Fun Fact

This film marked one of the few times Johnny Cash played a villainous role, showcasing a different side of his acting capabilities.

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