Movie discovery

Explore stories across every screen

CrimeYear1987Duration1h 34mIMDb5.3

The Killing Time

CrimeDramaRomance

A murderer who assumes the identity of a new deputy is unbeknownst to the sheriff planning to pin a separate murder on him.

Trailer

Cast

RK

Rick King

Director

Beau Bridges

Sam Wayburn

Kiefer Sutherland

The Stranger

Wayne Rogers

Jake Winslow

Joe Don Baker

Carl Cunningham

Camelia Lynne

Laura Winslow

Janet Carroll

Lila Daggett

Michael Madsen

Stu

GH

Gracie Harrison

Mary Ellen Knoeller

Harvey Vernon

Dick

Shiri Appleby

Annie Winslow

JE

Jeb Ellis-Brown

Brian Mars

Harriet Medin

Nell

RB

Richard Bolik

Coroner

MB

Mark Barkawitz

Stranger's Father

MB

Mathew Brady

Young Stranger

Paul McKenna

Man at Party

DB

Don Bohlinger

Writer

JN

James Nathan

Writer

BF

Bruce Franklin Singer

Writer

Comments

10 Comments

mrsadduMay 29, 2023

source: The Killing Time

mostafa_sh_daw 🇲🇦🇩🇿❤️❤️May 23, 2023

If you are in it for the long game ... well you may have more success than others. But an interesting take and interesting character Sutherland gets to play here. Overall it still has its flaws (pacing and otherwise), but it is more than a decent thriller - casting alone made sure of that. You may see where this is going and there are glimpses of two sides of Sutherland. Who is channeling quite a lot here. He came a long way since then, but he is multitalented, also playing music quite succesfully. Keep your expectations a bit low and you'll be more than entertained by what you get served here - no pun intended. Even if it is quite predictable.

PearlMay 23, 2023

Above all, I mean the opening and ending scenes, which could be different: the first killed a lot of thrill for subsequent events, the latter was too abrupt and short. The tensions are also not maintained high throughout the movie and events connected to the past remain vague and uncompleted. Dramatic scenes end as suddenly as they begin and do often not provide additional value to the movie; the plot does not run smoothly, the scenes are rather "minced". But performances are good (Bridges, Baker, Kath) or great (Sutherland, Rogers); Madsen could have played a bigger part. The Killing Time fits quite well into its title, especially if you like something happening in a quiet American town, without constant chases and bursts.

Marcus PobeeMay 23, 2023

I rented this movie and was very disappointed in it. I like Kiefer a lot, but this is not one of his best performances. His acting isn't bad, but it's not good either. The movie is boring and I should have rented something else. And as for Camelia Kath, I've seen better looking scare-crows in farmer's fields. She's gross! The story line is nothing special, good cop against bad cop. This can get boring really fast. Wife plans murder of her husband with her boyfriend. Brilliant! And you just know it's not going to go as planned. If you need help getting to sleep tonight, rent or buy this movie. Sweet dreams!!! I give this movie a 1 out of 10.

BOKOSSA MABICKAMay 23, 2023

This one could have been better. The scenario works, the good cop not being totally good and the bad guy not entirely bad. Beau Bridges does a reliable job and Kiefer Sutherland even works to do a role out of the ordinary kiefer. However, the director ruins everything. The result is boring beyond limits. All the suspense comes from the screenplay and the final is totally flat. As a matter of fact, I have never seen a movie where screenplay and direction differ in quality as clearly as in this one.

Michael MortonMay 23, 2023

we bought this movie, as a second-hand copy, and first thing to strike us, was that we didn't have to turn up the sound, and talking bout sound, this score is one of the best we have heard, if score means coordinatiniton with the scenes in motion. the scenes too were artistically cut, to the score. we strongly recommend this copy to be copied by serious distributors for the future. unlike recent releases like matrix and others one can actually see and mostly hear this movie on and on. the screenplay is predictable, and a copy of an old perry mason episode. reference: new world international, danish copy by filmlab no 7736.

Afriqua love gacha💖May 23, 2023

The script of this movie never shows why or how a seemingly decent, almost boring small-town cop is transformed into a scheming bad-ass who plans not only murder, but to pin the blame for it on a fellow officer. Love is just not enough, especially when the object of it, Camelia Kath, is so woefully lacking in the femme fatale department. Then there is Keifer, who is excellent, except we don't get to see much of him. A lot could have been done with this character, but instead we get large dollops of the poisonous relationship between two quite unattractive people (Kath and her nasty, clichéd, property tycoon husband). Hitchcock could probably have pulled off a denouement in sand dunes on an overcast day but probably not many others could. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Joe Don Baker's performance as the old sheriff.

STHEMBISO KHOZAMay 23, 2023

Having just watched another Kiefer Sutherland good movie (Truth or Consequences N.M.), I found "The Killing Time" almost equal. True the end was probably as predictable as ever, but getting there was as twisty as a California coastal road. Michael Madsen kind of disappeared, and that was somewhat disappointing. The character development was very good, the acting was fine also. I found the enjoyment level better than some of Quentin Tarantino's supposed classics. It is no "Fargo" but has that kind of feel to it. You could do much worse for an evenings entertainment. I give "The Killing Time" a solid 6.5 stars. - MERK

Brenda LoiceMay 23, 2023

If "The Killing Time" is ranked well below average, this is mainly due to its implausibility and inconsistency. I could enumerate lots of reasons why the scenario is totally incredulous, but simply describing how the film starts, will suffice: A stranger (Sutherland) kills a man who was on his way to a job as a deputy sheriff in a small California coastal town. The murderer subsequently goes to the town, assuming the killed man's identity and starting to work in the police precinct himself, without anyone noticing that there is something wrong! The sequel of events does not get any more plausible: We watch the existing deputy sheriff Sam Wayborn (Bridges), as he plans along with his girlfriend Laura Winslow (Kath), the murder of her husband Jake (Rogers), with the intent of putting the blame on his new colleague. Throughout this inconsistent story we experience lots of annoying plot gaps, which render the movie a rather boring experience. Unfortunately, the direction does not help either. I do not know the other works of director Rick King, but I bet this is not his best one... The same goes with the acting: With the exception of Kiefer Sutherland, who manages to inject some liveliness in his role as a psycho stranger, the rest of the cast is mired in mediocrity. Quite disappointing. 3/10.

Khandy NarteyMar 14, 2023

Above all, I mean the opening and ending scenes, which could be different: the first killed a lot of thrill for subsequent events, the latter was too abrupt and short. The tensions are also not maintained high throughout the movie and events connected to the past remain vague and uncompleted. Dramatic scenes end as suddenly as they begin and do often not provide additional value to the movie; the plot does not run smoothly, the scenes are rather "minced". But performances are good (Bridges, Baker, Kath) or great (Sutherland, Rogers); Madsen could have played a bigger part. The Killing Time fits quite well into its title, especially if you like something happening in a quiet American town, without constant chases and bursts.

Featured Picks

Looking for more entertainment? Explore our recommended gaming hub and short-drama destination.

Instant Games

Gamixo

Play casual browser games with puzzles, cards, sports, and quick challenges ready in seconds.

Short Drama

VSKIT Drama

Watch trending mini-series, romance stories, and fresh short dramas with fast daily updates.