Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- sardonic
- enigmatic
- decadent
- rainy evening
- crime movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the Savannah setting and eccentric characters intriguing but felt Clint Eastwood’s restrained direction flattened the source material’s cultural energy and left the mystery plodding.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Savannah architecture, Christmas parties, graveyard rituals, spiritualism, and flamboyant local personalities surround the murder trial.
James Williams's semi-closeted homosexuality and relationship with Billy Hanson are central to the murder and its surrounding tensions.
Magazine reporter John Kelso arrives to write about Savannah society and remains to investigate its murder and trial.
Elegant parties, antiques, bon vivant manners, and theatrical eccentricity coexist with a violent death and courtroom suspicion.
Films like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and why
The Talented Mr. Ripley
shared southern gothic atmosphere, eccentric ensemble, murder mystery, and regional social observation
Basic Instinct
shared neo-noir crime intrigue, ambiguous sexuality, psychological tension, and stylish character-driven drama
Fargo
shared eccentric small-community characters, theatrical social performance, and darkly comic murder investigation
A Time to Kill
shared southern gothic setting, outsider perspective, courtroom crime drama, and cultural tensions
Movie Details
- Director
- Clint Eastwood
- Release Date
- 1997-11-21
- Runtime
- 155 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (651)
Cast
- John Cusack
- Kevin Spacey
- Jude Law
- Alison Eastwood
- Jack Thompson
- Irma P. Hall
- Paul Hipp
- Lady Chablis
- Dorothy Loudon
- Anne Haney
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil about?
- An outsider reporter becomes entangled in Savannah’s flamboyant social world while covering a murder trial that exposes concealed desire and local power.
- What is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil as slow, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil as moderate.
- What did critics think of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
- Critics broadly found the Savannah setting and eccentric characters intriguing but felt Clint Eastwood’s restrained direction flattened the source material’s cultural energy and left the mystery plodding.
- Which films are like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
- Films with a similar feel include The Talented Mr. Ripley, Basic Instinct, Fargo, and A Time to Kill.
- How long is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil runs 155 minutes.
- Where can I watch Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
- In United States, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
