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Trailer

Cruel and Unusual

2002Movie1 h 40 min

DramaThriller
31
BadGoodWatch score
IMDb4.7Rotten Tomatoes–9%

A nerve-racking, gripping drama movie about everyday modern life and crime.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you scare easily

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Neighbor. Friend. Serial Killer.

A sleepy Oregon village turns deadly when Adam, introducing himself as an English professor working on his first novel, befriends Kate and Mike, a brother and sister trying to put their lives back together after the death of their father. The two welcome the stranger, unaware that their actions will lead them down a dangerous path into the mind and grip of a deadly serial killer.

Feels like

  • Psychological Thriller
  • Small Town Mystery
  • Serial Killer
  • Slow-Burn Suspense
  • Intrigue & Deception
  • Atmospheric Tension
  • Character-Driven
  • Bleak Realism
  • Pacific Northwest Setting

Cast

10 of 10

Crew

Directed by
George Mihalka
Written by
Dan Witt, Rod Browning, Robert Geoffrion
Produced by
John A. Curtis, Dick Lowry, Evan Tylor
Music by
Michel Cusson

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 30, 2002 · 1 h 40 min · Violence, Disturbing Imagery

Released
April 30, 2002
Runtime
1 h 40 min
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, Thriller
Original language
English
Made in
Canada
Available in
6 countries

Tropes

Heroic Suicide, Pride, The Nothing After Death +9

  • Heroic Suicide
  • Pride
  • The Nothing After Death
  • Disproportionate Retribution
  • Mundane Afterlife
  • Off on a Technicality
  • Suicide for Others' Happiness
  • Would Hurt a Child
  • Domestic Abuse
  • The Alcoholic
  • The Atoner
  • Self-Made Orphan

12 of 26 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Cruel and Unusual?"

Questions about Cruel and Unusual

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Cruel and Unusual?

PrimeThe RokuPlexTubi TV

In the United States, Cruel and Unusual streams on Prime, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Plex, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Fandango At Home.

Is Cruel and Unusual worth watching?

31
BadGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 31 (IMDb 4.7).

Will I feel good after watching Cruel and Unusual?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Will Cruel and Unusual scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 8 of 10.

What tropes does Cruel and Unusual use?

Heroic SuicidePrideThe Nothing After DeathDisproportionate RetributionMundane AfterlifeOff on a TechnicalitySuicide for Others' HappinessWould Hurt a ChildDomestic AbuseThe AlcoholicThe AtonerSelf-Made Orphanand 14 more

TV Tropes lists 26 tropes for it, including Heroic Suicide, Pride, and The Nothing After Death.