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6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Kennel Murder Case remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school detective stuff where everyone talks fast and wears fancy suits, you’ll dig this. It’s got that specific 1930s energy—sharp, quick, and a bit stagey. If you need modern pacing or real grit, you'll probably hate it. It moves at the speed of a typewriter, which is exactly why I enjoyed it.
William Powell is basically playing a version of the guy he perfected in other movies, and honestly, why change it? He’s cool, he’s detached, and he treats the crime scene like it’s a minor inconvenience before dinner. Watching him work is like watching someone assemble a clock in the dark. You know he’s going to get it right, but you enjoy the clicking sounds along the way.
There’s this one bit with the Scottish terrier that felt so weirdly authentic compared to the stiff dialogue. Most movies back then used animals like props, but here, the dog actually acts like a dog. It’s the small stuff, you know?
The movie is obsessed with the "how did they do it" aspect of the murder. It’s a classic puzzle, but the film doesn’t get bogged down in being too smart for its own good. It just lays out the clues and lets you try to keep up.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Monkey Business, just without the slapstick. It has that same feeling of people rushing around to solve a mess before the police show up. I kept waiting for someone to trip over a rug, but they stayed pretty focused on the murder.
There is a scene in the library where the camera just sits there for an uncomfortable amount of time while everyone stares at a vase. It’s bizarre. It’s like the director forgot to yell 'cut' or wanted to make sure we really, really saw the pottery. It’s funny in a way that I doubt was intended, but I love moments like that.
Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a good way to spend a rainy afternoon? Absolutely. It’s lean, mean, and doesn’t waste any time with extra fluff. Just a dead guy, a broken vase, and a detective who looks like he’d rather be literally anywhere else.
