A Kind of Murder

A Kind of Murder is a psychological thriller film that was released in 2016. Directed by Andy Goddard and written by Susan Boyd, the movie stars Patrick Wilson, Jessica Biel, Haley Bennett, and Eddie Marsan.

The movie is based on the novel "The Blunderer" by Patricia Highsmith. The story is set in New York during the 1960s and follows the life of a successful novelist named Walter Stackhouse (Patrick Wilson). He is unhappy with his marriage to his wife Clara (Jessica Biel), who suffers from depression and refuses to have physical relations with her husband.

On the other hand, Walter is fascinated by a real-life murder case in which a man named Kimmel (Eddie Marsan) allegedly killed his wife. Walter begins to research and write about the murder case, becoming convinced that Kimmel is innocent and that his wife committed suicide.

Walter's fascination with the murder case soon becomes an obsession, and he starts to envision his own wife's death. One night, after a heated argument, Clara goes missing, and suspicion falls on Walter. As the investigation progresses, Walter becomes the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance, and he finds himself caught up in a game of cat and mouse with the detective in charge of the case.

Meanwhile, Walter meets a beautiful and mysterious woman named Ellie (Haley Bennett) who becomes his confidante and helps him to deal with the guilt and the obsession he feels with his life. However, as Walter and Ellie get closer, they find that their relationship may have deadly consequences.

A Kind of Murder is an intense and suspenseful movie that explores the dark side of obsession and desire. The story goes through different twists and turns that keep viewers guessing until the very end. The acting by the cast is solid, with Patrick Wilson delivering a strong performance as a man slowly losing his grip on reality.

The film's direction and cinematography are also worth a mention, with the period setting and the architectural elements of mid-century modern architecture adding to the aesthetics of the movie.

One of the strong points in A Kind of Murder is that it never falls into cliches or predictable outcomes, contrary to typical thriller movies. The ending of the film is notably ambiguous, leaving the audience with the possibility of different conclusions and interpretations.

Overall, A Kind of Murder is a tense psychological thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. It features compelling performances by the cast and strong direction from Goddard. Fans of the genre who might not have watched the movie should give it a chance as the story and the cast really deliver.