Essential Killing
Seen it?2010 | 84 min | Thriller, War
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (77% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and a lukewarm 5.9 out of 10 from audiences. 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 anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, intense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 24 min.
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A Taliban soldier struggles to survive after he escapes his captors and flees into the Polish countryside.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
77% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesBelow par
5.9 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 2 Venice awards: Golden Lions, Grand Jury Prize of the Venice Film Festival.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$490K worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 22K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
- Vincent GalloMohammed
- Emmanuelle SeignerMargaret
- David L. PriceInterrogation Officer
- Zach CohenAmerican Contractor 1
- Iftach OphirAmerican Contractor 2
- Nicolai Cleve BrochHelicopter Pilot 1
- Stig Frode HenriksenHelicopter Pilot 2
- Dariusz JuzyszynLogger
- Janusz WojtarowiczMargaret's Husband