The Killing Jar

Name: The Killing Jar
Genre: Drama
Released: March 19, 2010
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 14

2010

METASCORE

Overwhelming dislike based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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5.2

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5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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The Killing Jar

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Movie Details & Credits

Release Date: March 19, 2010

Summary: Seven people are passing time one late evening at a small roadside diner in the middle of nowhere. Among them are Noreen, a waitress trapped in a loveless marriage; John, a melancholy salesman; Hank, a quiet with a secret; Lonnie, a small-town cop; and Jimmy, the ill-tempered owner. When a radio reports the disturbing murders of a family inSeven people are passing time one late evening at a small roadside diner in the middle of nowhere. Among them are Noreen, a waitress trapped in a loveless marriage; John, a melancholy salesman; Hank, a quiet with a secret; Lonnie, a small-town cop; and Jimmy, the ill-tempered owner. When a radio reports the disturbing murders of a family in a nearby county, the patrons immediately suspect new arrival Doe as the killer. A bloody confrontation ensues, and the patrons become hostages as the troubled Doe decides their fates. As secrets are revealed, the desperate survivors slowly realize that one of the hostages may be even more dangerous than their captor. (New Films International)… Expand

Director: Mark Young

Genre(s): Drama

Runtime: 92 min

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Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis

A cheapie hostage drama with a lot more swagger than substance, The Killing Jar strains to wring tension from a tired premise and an airless script. Read full review

Robert Abele

Benson is so terrible her close-up line readings feel as inconsequential as the insert shots, and Madsen, it must be said, finally looks exasperated with playing grumbly psychos. At times he looks as helpless as his hostages. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

A cliched, talky variation on the 1936 Bogie classic "The Petrified Forest," with scant dramatic tension but gallons of spilled blood on the menu. Read full review

Aaron Hillis

Mark Young’s bargain-basement thriller is as witless as the captor’s motive; to paraphrase another well-dressed Madsen psycho, this little doggie barks, but it has no bite. Read full review

Andrew Barker

A spectacularly boring chamber thriller. Read full review

Ernest Hardy

The film has no pulse and feels interminable, with its stilted dialogue, static staging, and usually fine actors who are horrendous here--Amber Benson is all moist-eyed empathy as the waitress while Madsen is laughably bad. Read full review

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User Reviews

eva3si0n

Jun 18, 2023

I don't understand why The Killing Jar has such a low rating. Yes, The Killing Jar is not an outstanding chamber film, but not bad. There is suspense, there is a simple formula with a murderer and hostages, there is also a plot twist. And it all works in general. As a movie for one viewing,I don't understand why The Killing Jar has such a low rating. Yes, The Killing Jar is not an outstanding chamber film, but not bad. There is suspense, there is a simple formula with a murderer and hostages, there is also a plot twist. And it all works in general. As a movie for one viewing, it will go well. Of course, the finale is somewhat disappointing, after all, the main plot twist is read by the viewer in the middle of the film. But attention to at least one detail that is casually spoken at the beginning of the film and which it ends is surprising. A good chamber thriller with a simple story.… Expand

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