''Mr In-Between'' (also called ''The Killing Kind'') is a 2001 British
crime drama
Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...
film based on the 1998 novel of the same title by English novelist
Neil Cross
Neil Cross ( Neil Claude Gadd; born 9 February 1969) is a British novelist and scriptwriter, best known as the creator of the drama series ''Luther'' and ''Hard Sun''. He is also the showrunner for the TV adaptation of '' The Mosquito Coast'', ...
. The film was directed by
cinematographer
The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...
Paul Sarossy
Paul Sarossy, , , (born April 24, 1963) is a Canadian cinematographer and film director. He is known for his collaborations with director Atom Egoyan, serving as his director of photography on twelve feature films (''Speaking Parts'', ''The Adjus ...
, his only directorial role to date, and the screenplay written by Peter Waddington, who also has a small role in the film.
Plot summary
In 2002,
hitman
Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may be ...
Jon lives a life of relative solitude, until one day he happens upon an old friend, Andy, and is plunged into an unneeded relationship. The truth slowly unravels about Jon and what he does, endangering the lives of those close to him, and Jon is faced with an ultimatum. He must make his most difficult decision ever: whether to save the woman he loves or kill her and the child.
Cast
Production notes
*Early on, the film's producers were skeptical about the choice of
Paul Sarossy
Paul Sarossy, , , (born April 24, 1963) is a Canadian cinematographer and film director. He is known for his collaborations with director Atom Egoyan, serving as his director of photography on twelve feature films (''Speaking Parts'', ''The Adjus ...
, a first-time director and a Canadian in an otherwise all-
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
production crew, but eventually agreed he was the best man for the job.
*Sarossy, better known for his work as a
cinematographer
The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...
, wanted to focus on his directing and told cinematographer
Haris Zambarloukos
Haris Zambarloukos, B.S.C. (Greek: Χάρης Ζαμπαρλούκος; born 11 March 1970) is a Greek Cypriot cinematographer. He is known for his work in films such as ''Venus'' (2006), ''Sleuth'' (2007), '' Mamma Mia!'' (2008), ''Thor'' (201 ...
not to let him behind the camera, no matter how hard he persisted, for the duration of the shooting.
*In the original screenplay, as well as in the novel, the tattooed man's lair was a large
Victorian-style manor; Sarossy wanted something more dismal, and so writer Peter Waddington revised the scenes to take place in the sewers under the streets of
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
.
Reception
Derek Elley of ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' called it "unevenly acted and scripted". Jamie Russell of the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
rated it 3/5 stars and called it "commendably ambitious, but only occasionally successful".
'' rated it 3/5 stars and wrote that the film becomes more pretentious as time goes on.
rated it 2/5 stars and called it "intense, reflective yarn" that wallows in sadism. ''
'' called it bleak, stylistically bold, and occasionally pretentious.