Films like A Short Film About Killing.

A Short Film About Killing (1988) reads as Heavy, measured, extreme drama / crime, grounded in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) poster
1. The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith1978

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Bad Lieutenant (1992) (1992) poster
2. Bad Lieutenant1992

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

El Apando (1976) poster
3. El Apando1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Ju Dou (1990) poster
4. Ju Dou1990

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Vidheyan (1994) poster
5. Vidheyan1994

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Servile (1994) poster
6. The Servile1994

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Elephant (2003) (2003) poster
7. Elephant2003

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) poster
8. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia1974

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Lilya 4-ever (2002) poster
9. Lilya 4-ever2002

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Garage Olimpo (1999) poster
10. Garage Olimpo1999

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Our Lady of the Assassins (2000) poster
11. Our Lady of the Assassins2000

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Kisapmata (1981) poster
12. Kisapmata1981

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

These are A Short Film About Killing’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →