5.1/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 5.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Murder on the Set remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you have a thing for 1930s British crime stuff that feels like it was transferred from a piece of tape someone found in a bin, maybe. If you want a smooth, polished thriller, keep walking. This is for the people who actually like the grit of old film stock.
It’s a weird premise. The director kills his double and then just... carries on as if nothing happened? It’s bold, I guess. Henry Kendall is all over the place here, playing both parts with that frantic energy you only really see in movies from this era.
It’s not as polished as A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate, which is to be expected given the budget here. But there's something about the way Wally Patch looms around that keeps you watching. He’s got that classic heavy look that just works.
The whole movie feels like it was made on a Tuesday afternoon. There's no fat on the bone, mostly because they probably couldn't afford any. It doesn't drag, which is a blessing. It just kind of happens to you.
I wouldn't compare it to the big sweeping stuff like Michael Strogoff. This is a small, claustrophobic story. It stays in its lane. The lane is dark, a bit smoky, and slightly confusing. 🕵️♂️
Maybe it’s the quality of the source, but I found myself squinting at the screen a lot. Was that a shadow or a plot twist? Who knows. I kind of liked not being sure.