THE KILLING JAR

THE KILLING JAR
     MICHAEL MADSEN, AMBER BENSON, HAROLD PERRINEAU, JAKE BUSEY

THE PATRONS IN AN ISOLATED DINER HEAR A RADIO REPORT ABOUT A MURDERED FAMILY IN THE NEXT COUNTY.  A LITTLE WHILE LATER, A MENACING LOOKING STRANGER ENTERS THE DINER WHOM MANY OF THE PATRONS BELIEVE IS THE MURDERER.  AS THE MOVIE UNFOLDS, WE FIND OUT JUST WHO THE STRANGER IS AND JUST HOW CRAZY HE CAN BE.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MOVIES WHICH THROWS TOGETHER SOME PEOPLE, PUTS THEM IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEN SEES HOW THEY REACT.  NOTHING REALLY NEW IN THE STORY AND THE ENDING IS THE EXPECTED HOLLYWOOD WRAP UP.  HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENCE COMES FROM THE ACTING AND THE INTERACTION OF THE CHARACTERS.  MADSEN PLAYS THE STRANGER, AND HIS CHARACTER GOES FROM BEING CRAZY TO TERRIFYING TO SOMEWHAT COMPASSIONATE WITHIN THE ARC OF HIS PORTRAYAL.  IT'S A COMPLEX PART THAT HE DOES VERY WELL.  BENSON IS THE WAITRESS, NOT VERY EDUCATED AND STUCK IN HER JOB WITH A FEAR OF TRYING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT, BUT THE ONE THING SHE CAN DO VERY WELL IS "COUNT."  PERRINEAU IS A SALESMAN WHO STOPS FOR A BITE AND GETS CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE MADNESS.  AND BUSEY IS THE MAN WHO SHOWS UP TO PAY THE HIT MAN, BUT ENDS UP GETTING A LOT MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.  THE ACTING IS STRONG ALL AROUND AND THE DIRECTING MAKES IT MOVE FAST AND KEEPS YOUR INTEREST.  WHEN THE VIOLENCE ERUPTS, IT IS GRAPHIC AND BLOODY.  IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHARACTER STUDY TYPE MOVIE WITH QUIRKY ROLES AND PATCHES OF GRAPHIC VIOLENCE, THEN THIS IS THE MOVIE FOR YOU.
RATING  3 OUT OF 5