Kill! (1971)

Simply A Masterpiece

Perfect cast and a good story

i must have seen a different film!!

Excellent but underrated film

"Kill!" (or "Kill!" Kill!" "Kill!" "Kill!" "Kill!" "Kill!" "Kill!"....well, you get the idea) is ostensibly an anti-drug cinematic manifesto, yet it contains some sequences so ludicrous that you have to wonder if the filmmakers themselves were under the influence of drugs when they were filming them (especially the has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed ending). Badly scripted (apparently getting interrogated, intimidated and tied up by a man makes him irresistible to a woman, according to Romain Gary) and occasionally poorly dubbed in English for the supporting characters, this film is far below the talents of its leading quartet of actors, and as anti-drug propaganda pieces go, much worse than the infamous "The Poppy Is Also A Flower". Jean Seberg followers might be interested to know that she has a couple of topless scenes - but I'm fairly certain the body in those scenes belongs to a double. *1/2 out of 4.

Romain Gary's tale of dueling INTERPOL agents is an entertaining mess. James Mason travels to Pakistan to squash a drug smuggling cartel and runs into fellow spook Stephen Boyd. Boyd has gone rogue and Mason may or may not have gone over to the other side. Completing this roundelay of intrigue is the presence of Mason's wife Jean Seberg. It's all grim and at many times hopelessly confusing. Writer Gary was not much of a director and while he manages to photograph Seberg (his real-life wife) in the most flattering ways, he over-directs nearly everything else. What should be exciting and mysterious is frequently dull. The shrieking music by Jacques Chaumont & Berto Pisano adds nothing. Gary does stage several shocking scenes of ultra-violence. The level of acting runs the gamut with Mason & Seberg being fine as a couple ready to explode while Boyd, who insists on yelling every line, clearly has not learned how to act despite nearly twenty years and close to thirty films to his credit. Ultimately the film is a curio with the odd cast, strange plot and exotic filming locations.

I stumbled across this film while browsing Netflix. Worth the rent! Anyone who loved Jean Seberg will love this film. She's terrific. This role shows her at her tragic best. Those of you who are used to the American style of crime movie might not get this film. Romain Gary's approach is one of minimalist absurdity. This is much more French ala Goddard than French Connection. But give it a chance. View with no expectations and perhaps you'll see the film for what it is. Stephen Boyd is no slouch either. His scenes with Seberg are very disturbing.

This movie has suspense action and love all rolled into one loop. An earlier Die Hard movie and this movie is a great emotion builder. The cream of the crop and do not listen to anybody else. Do not miss this movie because their are big stars of the time and did I mention action. Shootouts, interrogations, espionage.