The defence The Big-Idea Head
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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Murder by Contract
Thriller · Crime · 1958
Claude is a ruthless and efficient contract killer. His next target, a woman, is the most difficult.
Movie details
Murder by Contract
“Double rates for women... because a woman is always double-trouble!”
1958 Thriller · Crime 1h 21m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.8 / 10
Community rating
Claude is a ruthless and efficient contract killer. His next target, a woman, is the most difficult.
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 Murder by Contract?
For the defence
The Big-Idea Head
“You watch with your brain, not your gut.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe 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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Run All Night
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The Killers
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A hit man and his partner try to find out why their latest victim, a former race-car driver, did not try to get away.
No Mercy
Action · 1986
An unconventional undercover Chicago cop and his partner are recruited to commit the murder of a New Orleans criminal kingpin.
The Virtuoso
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Danger, deception and murder descend upon a sleepy town when a professional assassin accepts a new assignment from his enigmatic boss.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Irving Lerner
Written by
Ben Maddow · Ben Simcoe
Vince Edwards
Claude
Phillip Pine
Marc
Herschel Bernardi
George
Caprice Toriel
Billie Williams
Michael Granger
Mr. Moon
Kathie Browne
Mary
Joseph Mell
Harry
Court is in session
Put Murder by Contract on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
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.