X
  • 1985
  • R
  • Orion Pictures
  • 1 h 43 m
  • 1985
  • R
  • Orion Pictures
  • 1 h 43 m

Summary Malcolm Anderson is a reporter for a Miami newspaper. He's had enough of reporting the local murders and so promises his school teacher girlfriend (Christine), they'll move away soon. Before Malcolm can hand in his notice, the murderer from his latest article phones him. The murderer tells Malcolm that he's going to kill again. The phone...

Directed By: Phillip Borsos

Written By: John Katzenbach, Christopher Crowe

  • 1985
  • R
  • Orion Pictures
  • 1 h 43 m
  • 1985
  • R
  • Orion Pictures
  • 1 h 43 m

The Mean Season

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 11 Critic Reviews
55
User Score Available after 4 ratings
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Where to Watch

Summary Malcolm Anderson is a reporter for a Miami newspaper. He's had enough of reporting the local murders and so promises his school teacher girlfriend (Christine), they'll move away soon. Before Malcolm can hand in his notice, the murderer from his latest article phones him. The murderer tells Malcolm that he's going to kill again. The phone...

Directed By: Phillip Borsos

Written By: John Katzenbach, Christopher Crowe

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 11 Critic Reviews
55
27% Positive
3 Reviews
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
9% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 11 Critic Reviews
55
27% Positive
3 Reviews
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
9% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Jordan is at his shrewdly crazed best, anchoring the movie with a felt terror, initially just through his off-screen voice as he manipulates the reporter over the phone and ultimately through his cunning.
FULL REVIEW
80
The Mean Season makes deft use of the thriller form to examine the relationship between those who report the news and those who make it, and how that line can blur dangerously. The film is very honest about how seductive a byline can be.
By Kevin Thomas FULL REVIEW
60
This movie has the weather of "Body Heat," the moral stance of "Absence of Malice" and the perverse plot-angle of "Tightrope." It's also not as good as any of these. [25 Feb 1985, p.85]
By Jack Kroll FULL REVIEW
50
We see the atmospherics, and hear them, but never feel the heat. Director Philip ("The Grey Fox") Borsos' style is too dogged to transform Mean Season into a true thriller, though it serves well as a message movie on what news is fit to print. [15 Feb 1985, p.29]
By Rita Kempley FULL REVIEW
50
The only redeeming aspects of the film are its striking production design by Philip Jefferies--a sweltering Miami similar to the look of ''Body Heat''-- and a convincing performance by Richard Masur as the city editor of the film`s fictional Miami newspaper.
By Gene Siskel FULL REVIEW
50
An uneven and somewhat predictable thriller.
FULL REVIEW
30
Nothing more than an inept thriller.
By Pauline Kael FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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Details

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Production Company David Foster Productions, Turman-Foster Company
Release Date Feb 15, 1985
Duration 1 h 43 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline The best story he'll ever write...The worst nightmare he'll ever live...Is just a phone-call away.
View All Details

Awards

Cognac Festival du Film Policier
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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