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The Killing Jar

  • 2010
  • R
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
Michael Madsen, Jake Busey, Amber Benson, and Harold Perrineau in The Killing Jar (2010)
A stranger armed with a shotgun takes seven patrons hostage in a remote roadside diner. But as the body count increases, the desperate survivors discover that one of the hostages may be even more dangerous than their captor.
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
11 Photos
CrimeMysteryThriller

A stranger armed with a shotgun takes seven patrons hostage in a remote roadside diner. But as the body count increases, the desperate survivors discover that one of the hostages may be even... Read allA stranger armed with a shotgun takes seven patrons hostage in a remote roadside diner. But as the body count increases, the desperate survivors discover that one of the hostages may be even more dangerous than their captor.A stranger armed with a shotgun takes seven patrons hostage in a remote roadside diner. But as the body count increases, the desperate survivors discover that one of the hostages may be even more dangerous than their captor.

  • Director
    • Mark Young
  • Writer
    • Mark Young
  • Stars
    • Michael Madsen
    • Harold Perrineau
    • Amber Benson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    3.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Young
    • Writer
      • Mark Young
    • Stars
      • Michael Madsen
      • Harold Perrineau
      • Amber Benson
    • 44User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
    • 14Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Killing Jar
    Trailer 1:40
    The Killing Jar

    Photos10

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    Top cast14

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    Michael Madsen
    Michael Madsen
    • Doe
    Harold Perrineau
    Harold Perrineau
    • Smith
    Amber Benson
    Amber Benson
    • Noreen
    Jake Busey
    Jake Busey
    • Greene
    Kevin Gage
    Kevin Gage
    • Hank
    Lew Temple
    Lew Temple
    • Lonnie
    Danny Trejo
    Danny Trejo
    • Jimmy
    Patrick Durham
    Patrick Durham
    • Patron #1
    Jonathan Sachar
    Jonathan Sachar
    • Patron #2
    Lindsey Axelsson
    Lindsey Axelsson
    • Starr
    Talan Torriero
    Talan Torriero
    • Billy
    Mark Young
    Mark Young
    • Radio Announcer
    • (voice)
    • (as Mark H. Young)
    Emily Catherine Young
    • Young Girl
    Todd Davis
    • Patron
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Young
    • Writer
      • Mark Young
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews44

    5.83.1K
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    Featured reviews

    7sorandor

    A Small Town Thriller with a Big Heart

    When i first saw this movie appear on my local DVD store shelf, i wondered why it never saw light of day at my local cinema.

    Michael Madsen and Amber Benson are the main stars here, and they put in a couple of fine performances. Possibly Michael Madsen most similar performance since his infamous role one in Reservoir Dogs. In fact, there is even a "Mr Green" here too! The film is shot entirely in one location (a diner) during one particular night. The diner is home to Noreen, a waitress who although unsatisfied with her job, is the type of small town girl who is happy to just do it. Meanwhile, the patrons comprise of various people who are stopping by on their way through, and we get to know each one a little more in detail as the movie progresses.

    The movie flows along at a steady pace, and the director ensures this is maintained throughout the movie. This is a positive thing, as it allows us to enter the small town philosophy a little easier. The music throughout is also excellently chosen, and by the time the titles came up at the end i was ready to rush out and buy the CD.

    However, one essential thing to take into account when you watch this movie is, don't take it too seriously. I became a little frustrated at why some parts of the story weren't removed and other parts put in. For example, why out of two strangers who walk into a diner does Noreen warm to one, and alienate the other all based on a radio report? And why doesn't the director utilise the video camera that the 2 kids bring to the diner to add some depth to the plot? But maybe this on purpose, as a red herring for people who look too deep into plot lines.

    Putting these small gripes aside, if you enjoy a small town thriller that may have a small budget, but sure has a big heart, fried up with a couple of fine performances then this is a great Saturday night movie.

    I certainly enjoyed it, and whilst it wont go down as a classic, i would recommend it for those late night Saturday blues, its intriguing, exciting, but if you're looking for a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then this isn't the one for you.
    Wizard-8

    It's okay, I guess

    Any movie that boasts amongst its actors Michael Madsen, Danny Trejo, and Jake Busey definitely gets some points of merit even before the movie starts rolling. Though those points aren't as much as you might think, because Trejo's part is small and very insignificant, and Busey's role isn't that much better. I also had some other problems with the movie. The photography is pretty bad, with dark and muddy colors throughout. Also, the movie takes a LONG time to get going - more than a third of the movie goes by, to be more exact. Still, I will admit that once the movie gets going, the rest of the movie is fairly compelling - though I had a good idea of how the movie was going to end some time before that ending actually played out. So there aren't exactly any surprises to be found in this movie. However, I will admit that I have seen far worse direct-to-DVD movies.
    7pdmanske

    The Actors Studio!

    Grabastic - I'm a channel flipper and I stopped flipping for this little gem. The movie was all about acting, it reminded me of 12 Angry Men or Night Of The Living Dead as it took place in a small space and was packed with tension and personalities. Bloody movie if you want street cred. You really didn't know who would be shot next or how or why. Micheal Madsen filled his type cast as a deranged thug and the rest of the cast played through acting school chops. Madsen got to ham it up and his experience showed. The writing was well done and tightly edited. Jake Busey as always bought the air of chaos and wildness along and fleshed his character out well. You could really imagine the actors walking around the green room with a script and talking to themselves.
    xdsi97

    Decent but not great - could have been very good though.

    Entertaining movie. Pressure cooker thriller. In theory the movie has all the ingredients of Reservoir dogs. Gritty storyline and a cast that includes Michael Madsen and Danny Trejo. But the movie falls short... Madsen is brilliant as always and Harold Perrineau delivers a good performance, but they are unable to make-up for Amber Benson's disappointment. Danny Trejo has a total of two minutes of screen time, and he is never shown fully (he is shown through a kitchen window)... Noreen, the central character played by Amber Benson, was the weakest link. Also, the pressure is let out a bit too prematurely... In all, a movie that has potential, but fails. That said, for a direct-to-DVD movie, this is very good. It is not an excellent movie, but a decent one at the very least. If you have nothing else to do, this might be a decent pastime movie.
    6anitalansing-40-581915

    Not Bad

    I remembered watching this movie on TV late at night but I didn't get the name of it. It was so suspenseful, but I was haunted not remembering the name. Well, I watched Reservoir Dogs tonight and it hit me that Michael Madsen was in this movie! He does loathsome and despicable so well. Michael kept the movie from being dry and boring. Not bad movie.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All entries contain spoilers
    • Goofs
      Several scenes the pistol held by different people was not cocked. It was a single action M1911A1 Colt type semi auto pistol. It was not a double action type where you pull the trigger and it cocks the hammer for you. You can't just pull the trigger and it fires. To fire an uncocked pistol is impossible.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Noreen: I have a crappy, pathetic life. I am terrified of change. I stay when I should go. I am not very smart. And I will probably never be truly happy. But I know one thing that you don't.

      Smith: Oh really? What's that?

      Noreen: I can count.

      Smith: Huh?

      Noreen: One for the tall man. Two for Hank. One for the kids. One for the ceiling. Seven bullets. That leaves one for you.

    • Crazy credits
      "No butterflies were harmed during the making of this film."
    • Connections
      References The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
    • Soundtracks
      The One I Need
      Written by James Saez, Lew Temple and Laura Saez

      Performed by Amber Benson, Laura Saez

      Published by Rosalyrics Publishing

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 9, 2010 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official Site (Spain)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La Trampa de l'Assassí
    • Filming locations
      • Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • Mark Young Films
      • Morningstar Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,339
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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