SummaryMalcolm 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 calls an... Read More
Directed By:Phillip Borsos
Written By:John Katzenbach, Christopher Crowe
The Mean Season
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
User score
Generally Favorable
6.4
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
27% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
64% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
9% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
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.
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.
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]
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]
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.
50
An uneven and somewhat predictable thriller.
30
Nothing more than an inept thriller.
User score
Generally Favorable
40% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
60% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Jun 20, 2025
7
For the most part, this movie is solid and suspenseful, As a burnt out newspaper guy Kurt Russell becomes center of huge media sensation, As a psycho contacts him to tell his story as victims pile up, and cops have no leads, And on top of that, there's a major hurricane on the way, Kurt anchors another commanding role, With a flashy role for Richard Jordan, And it was nice seeing a really young Andy Garcia, There's also some spot on satiric barbs against the media, and nice use of Miami locations, And lots of impactful gunfire sound fx, Only Mariel Hemmingway's poor acting skills, and a predictable climax, hurt the overall impact,
Dec 14, 2024
5
Average mystery thriller. The cast do their best with the screenplay given to them but there's little in the way of logic when it comes to plot editing pacing. Sadly it never quite lifts above average and although technically well produced, it lacks a touch of magix that would elevate it above the rest. Worth a watch if you're a fan of the cast/genre.
Production Company:
- David Foster Productions
- Turman-Foster Company
Release Date:Feb 15, 1985
Duration:1 h 43 m
Rating:R
Tagline:The best story he'll ever write...The worst nightmare he'll ever live...Is just a phone-call away.
Awards
Cognac Festival du Film Policier
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
