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A Kiss Before Dying

  • 1991
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
Matt Dillon and Sean Young in A Kiss Before Dying (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Pictures
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
19 Photos
CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

Jonathan Corliss murders his girlfriend Dorothy and moves onto her twin sister Ellen who grows suspicious of her new lover as he charms his way into their family and impresses their father T... Read allJonathan Corliss murders his girlfriend Dorothy and moves onto her twin sister Ellen who grows suspicious of her new lover as he charms his way into their family and impresses their father Thor Carlsson. Based on Ira Levin's novel.Jonathan Corliss murders his girlfriend Dorothy and moves onto her twin sister Ellen who grows suspicious of her new lover as he charms his way into their family and impresses their father Thor Carlsson. Based on Ira Levin's novel.

  • Director
    • James Dearden
  • Writers
    • Ira Levin
    • James Dearden
  • Stars
    • Matt Dillon
    • Sean Young
    • James Bonfanti
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    6.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Dearden
    • Writers
      • Ira Levin
      • James Dearden
    • Stars
      • Matt Dillon
      • Sean Young
      • James Bonfanti
    • 54User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
    • 40Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Videos1

    A Kiss Before Dying (1991)
    Trailer 2:06
    A Kiss Before Dying (1991)

    Photos19

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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Matt Dillon
    Matt Dillon
    • Jonathan Corliss
    Sean Young
    Sean Young
    • Ellen…
    James Bonfanti
    • Young Jonathan
    Sarah Keller
    • Lecturer
    Martha Gehman
    Martha Gehman
    • Patricia Farren
    Lia Chang
    • Shoe Saleslady
    Yvette Edelhart
    • Screaming Lady
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Thor Carlsson
    Jim Fyfe
    Jim Fyfe
    • Terry Dieter
    Lachele Carl
    Lachele Carl
    • Reporter
    Briony Glassco
    Briony Glassco
    • Waitress
    Shane Rimmer
    Shane Rimmer
    • Commissioner Malley
    James Russo
    James Russo
    • Dan Corelli
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Mrs. Corliss
    Adam Horovitz
    Adam Horovitz
    • Jay Faraday
    Frederick Koehler
    Frederick Koehler
    • Mickey
    • (as Freddy Koehler)
    Joie Lee
    Joie Lee
    • Cathy
    • (as Joy Lee)
    Brett Barth
    • Dave
    • Director
      • James Dearden
    • Writers
      • Ira Levin
      • James Dearden
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews54

    5.76.2K
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    Featured reviews

    6mls4182

    For Matt Dillon fans only

    Inferior remake of the 1956 classic. Matt Dillion was still very handsome when this was made and the real reason to watch. He is effective as the sociopat, and would have been better with a talented and attractive leading lady. Sean Young is just really, really bad. If you dislike her, this plays as an unintentional comedy. A nice touch is Matt lighting a cigarette after he pushes her off the roof.

    Now if Matt was teamed with Diane Lane again, this could have been an effective and sexy thriller. BTW, well to do women do not buy box hair color at the drugstore they have professionals color it. Hair as dark as Young's would have to be bleached first anyway. It is a two step process.
    6lastliberal

    Another remake - yawn!

    Why do they do it? Just because a film was made once in the fifties, someone thinks they need to remake it with today's hot stars. At least they could improve on the story.

    The most glaring hole in this version is the fact that the father (Max von Sydow) hired a private detective to investigate the boyfriend of his daughter, and yet he declined to investigate the boyfriend of his other daughter, both played by Sean Young, which would have exposed the plot.

    Matt Dillon plots to have it all and has to do some things that just stretch us beyond belief to get there. He just seems to be in the right place at the right time just once or twice too often for my tastes.

    I fell in love with Sean Young when she did No Way Out back in 1987. I haven't seen much of her lately and understand that she has not been doing so well. I thought she was good in this role and think that she has been unfairly criticized.

    Still, I believe film noir is best watched in films of the fifties and remakes just don't do it for me.
    5Peach-2

    Good performance....

    This film contains a very good performance from Matt Dillion, but the rest isn't very good at all. Bad pacing, I was ultimately bored unless Dillion was on the screen. If you are a Matt Dillion fan check it out.
    stevesw9

    "like a bad tv movie"

    "like a bad tv movie" Thanks to MCMucus, Kalamazoo. You summed it up in 5 words. I could only add that a pompous score tries to tell you that a wonderful drama is unfolding in front of you. It's not. It's hard to find anything of value in this film.
    6=G=

    Kiss this!

    Sean Young gets a double Razzie nod for sleepwalking through her dual role in this journeyman thriller which sticks Matt Dillon out front as an upwardly mobile man who prefers to murder his way to the top of the corporate ladder. Full of contrivances and asking many questions while providing few answers, this mediocre rehash of a 1956 thriller makes for little more than a nominal couch potato no-brainer. Okay to zone to. (C+)

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Matt Dillon was actually James Dearden's third choice to play the lead role. Originally Dearden wanted River Phoenix to play Jonathan, but Phoenix didn't relate to the material saying he couldn't play someone so evil. Then Dearden approached Kiefer Sutherland who turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts. Finally Dillon got the role and Dearden was so impressed with his performance that he later said Dillon should've been his first choice all along.
    • Goofs
      When Ellen and Jonathan take the injured homeless woman to the hospital, Ellen talks to a nurse and offers to pay the bill. First, the nurse is wearing a stiff white cap and uniform. Most nurses, especially in the ER, had stopped wearing this type of uniform by the time the film was set. Also, she gives the nurse the money for the bill. Nurses do not handle billing and collection in hospitals. Plus, she didn't seem to know how much the bill was. And no receipt?
    • Quotes

      Nurse: She's got two broken ribs, a broken jaw, and a bad concussion. We're going to keep her overnight for observation.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Mortal Thoughts/Impromptu/Out for Justice/Journey of Hope (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Dangerous Love
      Written by Simon Stokes & Mark Hefferman

      Performed by Simon Stokes

      Courtesy of Kook Records

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 26, 1991 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Un beso antes de morir
    • Filming locations
      • St. Thomas Church - 1 W 53rd St, New York City, New York, USA(Jonathan and Ellen's wedding)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Initial Pictures
      • Kellgate Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $15,429,177
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,348,165
      • Apr 28, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $15,429,177
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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