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Deathtrap

Deathtrap

Comedy · Crime · Drama · 1982

A Broadway playwright puts murder in his plan to take credit for a student's script.

Movie details

Deathtrap

“The trap is set... For a wickedly funny who'll-do-it.”

1982 Comedy · Crime · Drama 1h 56m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

A Broadway playwright puts murder in his plan to take credit for a student's script.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Deathtrap?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Crime · 1950

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After failing to make it on Broadway, April returns to her hometown and reluctantly begins training a misfit group of young dancers for a competition.

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The Pelican Brief

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Strangers on a Train

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Sidney Lumet

Written by

Jay Presson Allen

Michael Caine

Michael Caine

Sidney Bruhl

Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve

Clifford Anderson

Dyan Cannon

Dyan Cannon

Myra Bruhl

Irene Worth

Irene Worth

Helga ten Dorp

Henry Jones

Henry Jones

Porter Milgrim

Joe Silver

Joe Silver

Seymour Starger

Tony DiBenedetto

Tony DiBenedetto

Burt

Court is in session

Put Deathtrap on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.