A Kind of Murder

In 1960s New York, Walter Stackhouse is a successful architect whose life at home with his wife Clara is strained. He keeps his own private fantasies at bay until he becomes fascinated by the case of a man suspected of murdering his wife. As Walter finds himself drawn into the crime story surrounding Marty Kimmel, the investigation heats up and a determined detective treats Walter as a possible suspect. The boundary between Walter's desire and his real motives grows murky, and the tension tightens as the pursuit turns inward. The film, inspired by Patricia Highsmith's novel, plays with misperception and the danger of assumptions as it probes who truly has blood on their hands. The period detail, from tailored suits to chrome and neon, anchors the tension and keeps the stakes intimate despite the city buzzing around.

Released in 2016, this moody thriller is directed by Andy Goddard and adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel The Blunderer with Susan Boyd writing the screenplay and producing a tense atmospheric adaptation.

Critics note the film captures a moody noir atmosphere, with its late night Manhattan and restrained performances that heighten suspense. The story grapples with obsession, marital dissatisfaction, and how easily appearances conceal motive, inviting viewers to question who really holds the power in a crime investigation and where guilt resides.

Box office details are not widely reported, reflecting a limited release and modest visibility in markets outside the United States. The film quietly built a small audience on streaming and home media, without the kind of blockbuster footprint that makes headlines.

While not a cultural phenomenon, the film sits within Patricia Highsmith's tradition of psychological thrillers that measure danger by what characters think and conceal. Its restrained tone and ensemble help it blend with other period adaptations of the era, inviting viewers to reflect on perception, gender roles, and the risk of leaping to conclusions in crime stories.