Kill Me Again **** (1989, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Michael Madsen) – Classic Movie Review 1615

Co-writer-director John Dahl’s sizzling, quirky and twisty 1989 retro-film noir thriller stars the young Val Kilmer at his most ingratiating as a dubious, cash-strapped, third-rate Reno private eye called Jack Andrews.

Kilmer is ideally cast opposite his then wife Joanne Whalley as Fay Forrester, an attractive, smouldering con artist femme fatale on the run from the mob and her violent and jealous psychopathic boyfriend Vince (Michael Madsen). Fay hires Jack to arrange her faked death to restart her life with a new identity and the money she and Vince stole. Of course Vince finds out Fay’s still alive and starts a hunt for Jack, Fay and the money.

Dahl’s movie is an extremely smooth, stylish and steamy film noir brew in the vintage style. A stupendous movie to satisfy all mystery fans it is expertly brought to the boil by the young director Dahl going places. It’s a showcase for clever acting, a cornucopia of satisfying and surprising plot twists, lots of seedy low-life atmosphere, and a gothic rogues’ gallery of complex characters. If Kilmer and Walley are ideal, Madsen is perfect, giving a horrifically unpleasant account of himself as the villain.

Jonathan Gries, Pat Mulligan, Nick Dimitri, Michael Greene and Bibi Besch co-star.

Dahl went on to make Red Rock West and The Last Seduction to complete a marvellous film noir trilogy. He’s also the maker of the excellent Rounders and Road Kill.

Kilmer and Whalley met while making Willow in 1988. They married on 28 February 1988 and divorced on 1 February 1996, and had two children: Mercedes (born 1991) and Jack (born 1995).

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