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The Mean Season

The Mean Season

Mystery · Thriller · 1985

A routine investigation of a shocking murder takes a bizarre twist when the killer contacts the reporter and appoints him his personal spokesman. As the killer's calls and clues increase, the reporter is lured into a deadly trap.

Movie details

The Mean Season

“A time between summer... and murder.”

1985 Mystery · Thriller 1h 43m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

A routine investigation of a shocking murder takes a bizarre twist when the killer contacts the reporter and appoints him his personal spokesman. As the killer's calls and clues increase, the reporter is lured into a deadly trap.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Mean Season?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Deceiver

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The Return of Doctor X

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The Blue Gardenia

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Thirteen at Dinner

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Crime · 1985

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Phillip Borsos

Written by

Leon Piedmont

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell

Malcolm Anderson

Mariel Hemingway

Mariel Hemingway

Christine Connelly

Richard Jordan

Richard Jordan

Alan Delour

Richard Masur

Richard Masur

Bill Nolan

Richard Bradford

Richard Bradford

Phil Wilson

Joe Pantoliano

Joe Pantoliano

Andy Porter

Andy Garcia

Andy Garcia

Ray Martinez

Court is in session

Put The Mean Season on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Its refusal to behave is the point.”

The strange choices create the kind of friction that follows you out of the theatre and into the argument.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Oddness is not depth.”

A film can break every rule and still leave nothing behind but the memory of how hard it tried to be singular.