Overrated and overhyped

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Angry, deranged kid is paroled after serving two years in prison for taking part in a gang-rape; he returns home to his mother's boarding house in a cheaper section of Los Angeles but, with no plans (and no prodding from his gimme-a-little-kiss mommy), he goes after the women who did him wrong. Grimy, ineffectual Curtis Harrington-directed shocker, with a lame-duck screenplay credited to Tony Crechales and co-producer George Edwards. The plot cobbles together various ideas and scenes from a myriad of other thrillers (with a failed overlay of Hitchcock, besides), and the stray cruelty and general bad taste are often excruciating to wade through. Veteran actress Ann Sothern and the newcomers in the cast can possibly be forgiven, but what was Harrington's excuse? After jump-starting his career behind the camera with interesting curios, Harrington got stuck in a kind of post-"Baby Jane" rut, concentrating primarily on stories of delusional bottom-feeders operating on little money or brains; his sense of squalid atmospherics are far stronger than his talent in handling actors. A young John Savage is blobby and unformed in the leading role, while his character goes after female acquaintances without a provocative plan--he just seems restless and trapped by mama. Harrington must have known this script was a loser, injecting arty accouterments into the stew (slow-motion takes, flashback edits, and a really silly dream sequence). It doesn't work at all, and the movie failed to find the proper distribution after Universal passed. *1/2 from ****

Solidly well-done thriller is an effectively disturbing gem that stands out from the many drive in horror flicks of the early 70's.After serving jail time for being accused of rape, a repressed young man returns home to his dominating mother where his desire for revenge may lead him down a murderous path. The Killing Kind reminds me quite a bit of another relatively undiscovered gem - 1982's Night Warning, although The Killing Kind pre-dates that film by nearly 10 years. As with that film the power behind The Killing Kind lies in the sympathetic characters that drive this story. Not to mention that both films deal with the subject of unhealthy motherly obsession.The Killing Kind though does stand firmly on it's own as a twisted character study. The story is a compelling brooder of insanity, the suspense is tightly woven, there's a good share of shocking scenes, and the performances of Sothern and Savage are excellent. Ultimately this film becomes quite the emotional roller-coaster, especially in it's somber conclusion.Well worth seeking for those who like strong, character-driven thrillers. A shocking little rarity.*** 1/2 out of ****

I watched this early 70's flik last night expecting a decent film. While it wasn't too bad, I was disappointed by it. After being forced to participate unwillingly in a rape by his friends one day at the beach, our unfortunate son gets sent to prison for 2 years. Upon his release at first things seem somewhat normal as he adjusts to life on the outside once again. But after calling the girl him and his friends raped 2 years before and vaguely threatening her, he starts reliving the rape in his mind and starts thinking that revenge is a good thing. A few murders later, which by the way, are basically bloodless and not at all violent despite other reviews, his mother whom he lives with, starts putting the pieces together that her son may not be a very good boy. With an ending that is meant to draw sympathy from the audience, I found it completely unbeleivable and very down played. The acting by the mother and son was strangely accurate, yet something about the film left me disappointed.

It took me about a year to hunt down this obscure little flick, but after finally getting my hands on it, I can honestly say it was well worth the efforts. THE KILLING KIND is more than a horror film. It's a stylish, thought-provoking psycho-thriller that explores the mind of a very disturbed individual. John Savage(very impressive in an early starring role) plays Terry Lambert, a young man who is forced to participate in the brutal gang rape of a pretty young girl(Sue Bernard), then is sent to prison. Two years later, Savage is released and returns to the boardinghouse run by his loving, but overprotective mother, Thelma(the wonderful Ann Sothern). At first, Terry seems completelely adjusted and ready to put his life back in order, but he slowly becomes a madman, desperate for revenge and becomes involved in the terrifying deaths of three people. It's then up to his mother to turn her son in or protect him from the consequences that he will suffer for his actions. This is a spellbinding film that concentrates more on suspense and character development than supplying cheap thrills. THE KILLING KIND is definitely cult director Curtis Harrington's masterpiece, and the great cast does some of their finest work. The best performance is given by Ann Sothern who paints a touching portrait of a doting mother who is forced to confront the harsh realities of her son's true nature. At this stage in her career, Sothern was playing mostly character parts, but this is much more than a flashy character role. This particular role gives Sothern the opportunity to display a variety of emotions and she never misses a beat. Sothern is always excellent and certainly handles every role she plays with great style and skill, but this is truly the very best of her latter-day performances.