Kill or Cure (1928) Review: A Quirky Silent Film Ride

Okay, so Kill or Cure from 1928. Is it a must-see today? Probably not for most folks unless you're really into silent comedies and maybe a bit of a historical curiosity. If you dig old-school physical humor and appreciate how movies used to be made, sure, give it a shot. But if you're looking for slick modern laughs or anything fast-paced, you'll probably just find yourself puzzled. 🤷‍♀️

This one stars Jerry Shields, who, let's be honest, isn't exactly a household name alongside Keaton or Chaplin. He plays a guy who, if I’m remembering right, gets tangled up trying to sell some dubious health tonic or maybe just trying to escape a health retreat. Either way, it’s a setup for some classic silent-film shenanigans. The plot is thin, but that's kinda the point, isn't it?

What really stuck with me was this one scene where Jerry is trying to, I think, demonstrate his 'cure.' He's got this contraption, all springs and levers, that looks like it was cobbled together from a junk heap. The thing barely works. He tries to show how it 'invigorates' someone, but it just ends up flinging them across the room. 😂

The timing of these physical bits is surprisingly good for the era. You see him wind up, you see the inevitable failure, and then the aftermath. It’s simple, but effective. There’s a certain charm to how unsubtle it all is.

And the chase! Oh man, the chase scene. It’s not a high-speed car chase, obviously. This is more of a frantic dash through what looks like a very dusty backlot. Jerry is running from, well, everyone. Someone he’s annoyed, someone he’s accidentally offended. He ducks into a laundry cart, then pops out wearing a woman’s hat. It’s pretty silly.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Kill or Cure (1928) through its definitive frames.

You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this moment matters, but really, it's just about the next visual gag. The way he scrambles over a fence, only for it to collapse right after him, felt less like a stunt and more like a happy accident caught on film. It makes you wonder how many takes they needed for some of these.

The intertitles, you know, the text cards, are pretty straightforward. Sometimes a bit too on-the-nose, spelling out exactly what emotion someone's feeling. But then there are a few that just say something incredibly blunt, and it lands funnier because of it. Like, one just says: "UH OH." No context, just that. Perfection.

The crowd scenes have this oddly empty feeling sometimes, like half the extras wandered off for a coffee break. Or maybe they just couldn't afford too many. It gives it a slightly more intimate, almost stage-play feel than you might expect. You’re really focused on Jerry and his frantic flailing.

There's a recurring gag with a dog that just seems utterly unimpressed by all the human chaos. It just sits there, watching Jerry get into another mess, almost with a look of resigned boredom. That dog deserved its own movie. 🐶

Pacing-wise, it's typical for a silent. Some moments linger a touch too long, letting the gag sink in or maybe just giving the actors a breather. Then it suddenly speeds up into a whirlwind of arms and legs. It's a rhythm you get used to, but it takes a minute.

Overall, Kill or Cure is a decent peek into early film comedy. It's not going to change your life, and it definitely shows its age in places. But for a short, unassuming watch, it offers some genuine chuckles and a reminder of how much fun simple, physical humor can be. Just don't expect deep philosophical insights, okay? 😉