The Honeymoon Killers
Seen it?1970 | 108 min | Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.5 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and romantics. If you loved Badlands or Sea of Love, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 48 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence.
- Made in 1970: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Martha Beck, an obese nurse who is desperately lonely, joins a "correspondence club" and finds a romantic pen pal in Ray Fernandez. Martha falls hard for Ray, and is intent on sticking with him even when she discovers he's a con man who seduces lonely single women, kills them and then takes their money. She poses as Ray's sister and joins Ray on a wild killing spree, fueled by her lingering concern that Ray will leave her for one of his marks.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$11 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 32K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Leonard Kastle
- Shirley StolerMartha
- Tony Lo BiancoRay
- Mary Jane HigbyJanet
- Doris RobertsBunny
- Kip McArdleDelphine
- Marilyn ChrisMyrtle
- Dortha DuckworthMother
- Barbara CasonEvelyn
- Ann HarrisDoris
- Mary BreenRainelle