Kill Me Again **** (1989, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Michael Madsen) – Classic Movie Review 1,615

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

Co-writer-director John Dahl’s sizzling, quirky and twisty 1989 retro-film noir thriller Kill Me Again 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 [Jon Gries], Pat Mulligan, Nick Dimitri, Michael Greene and Bibi Besch co-star.

PolyGram agreed to produce it and then MGM agreed to co-finance it if it starred Val Kilmer, who was hot having just starred in Willow.

It was released in the US by MGM on October 27, 1989. But MGM and Kilmer were unenthusiastic about the film and little money or effort was spent to promote it. It got a limited theatrical release, showing in only 200 US cinemas, and failed at the box office, grossing only $283,694 on a low budget of $4 million, though popularity on home video helped it out.

Shooting took place in Nevada in Reno, Hazen, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

The cast

The cast are Val Kilmer as Jack Andrews, Joanne Whalley as Fay Forrester, Michael Madsen as Vince Miller, Jon Gries as Alan Swayzie, Pat Mulligan as Sammy, Michael Sharrett as Motel Clerk Tim, Michael Greene as Lieutenant Hendrix, Nick Dimitri, and Bibi Besch.

John Dahl movies

John 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.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer and Joanne 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).

Val Edward Kilmer (December 31, 1959 – April 1, 2025).

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