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Drama horror film

Murder Manual (2020): Cast & Ratings

Murder Manual (2020) movie poster

Murder Manual is a 2020 drama horror film directed by Kelly Hallmark and Sam N. Powell, starring Emilia Clarke as Malu, Maria Olsen and Ned Van Zandt. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes. Its Echo Score is 6/100.

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Murder Manual (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Genres
Drama , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Murder Manual About?

The premise of Murder Manual without spoilers.

This anthology film explores the dark side of human nature through a series of chilling tales. Each story, presented as chapters from a sinister manual, delves into horrifying scenarios. Viewers are drawn into a young girl's descent from nightmares into reality, a romantic getaway in Palm Springs that becomes deadly for a gay couple, a rideshare experience with a terrifying turn, and a young woman's desperate fight for rescue from a sinister circus, where her husband must come to her aid.

Murder Manual Themes & Keywords

· 24 tags
  • horror anthology
  • gay couple
  • anthology
  • barefoot female
  • collection of short films
  • white supremacy
  • sex scene
  • divided into chapters
  • film split into chapters
  • shackled woman
  • red veil
  • duct tape gag
+12 more
  • swastika tattoo
  • vito russo test passed
  • zombie
  • possession
  • neo nazi
  • woods
  • lgbt character
  • lgbt couple
  • gay sex scene
  • gay kiss
  • title directed by female
  • directed by several directors
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Cast & crew

Murder Manual Cast & Characters

Emilia Clarke leads the cast as Malu, with Maria Olsen as Betty and Ned Van Zandt as Tim. Directed by Kelly Hallmark and Sam N. Powell; 21 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Murder Manual

· 17 more
Show all 21 cast members
Ratings

Murder Manual Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 6/100, strongest in sensory experience (20) and weakest in rewatch factor (5).

6 /100

Murder Manual Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Murder Manual delivers a largely unsatisfying viewing experience, hindered by substandard production values and incoherent storytelling. The anthology’s reliance on a brief Emilia Clarke cameo fails to compensate for the disjointed assembly of short films, many of which suffer from poor editing, weak performances, and a lack of narrative cohesion. Audience expectations for horror thrills are unmet, resulting in minimal engagement. Consequently, the film scores very low on both critical and entertainment metrics.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 15

    ART suffers from evident technical shortcomings throughout the anthology. Reviewers note uneven editing, shoddy camerawork, and inconsistent sound quality that detract from visual coherence. While a few segments display modestly pleasing cinematography, the overall production design appears hasty and poorly integrated. These artistic flaws significantly diminish the film’s craft credibility.

  • Character & Emotion 10

    CHARACTER development is notably weak, with acting described as dross and limited emotional resonance. Emilia Clarke’s brief appearance fails to provide substantive engagement, and supporting performances across the shorts are uniformly criticized for lack of depth. The absence of compelling character arcs undermines audience connection, resulting in a hollow emotional landscape.

  • Story & Flow 5

    STORY coherence is heavily compromised by the anthology’s fragmented structure. Critics highlight an inability to weave the individual shorts into a unified narrative, resulting in disjointed pacing and an indistinct thematic thread. Attempts to link segments via a murder‑manual motif are perceived as forced, leaving the plot confusing and lacking clear progression.

  • Sensory Experience 20

    SENSORY elements receive limited praise, with occasional commendation for a single short’s cinematography, but overall reviewers describe sound design as shoddy and visual style as inconsistent. The lack of cohesive auditory and visual atmosphere contributes to a disengaging viewing experience, underscoring the anthology’s sensory shortcomings.

  • Rewatch Factor 5

    REWATCH appeal is minimal, as the collection provides neither sustained suspense nor memorable moments that encourage revisiting. Reviewers consistently advise audiences to avoid the film, citing its repetitive shortcomings and lack of engaging content. Consequently, the anthology offers little incentive for repeat viewings or lasting impression.

Videos

Murder Manual Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Murder Manual.

Official Trailer
Details

Murder Manual Also Known As

4 alternative titles, including “Инструкция по убийству” and “Manual de un asesinato”.

Also known as
  • Инструкция по убийству
  • Manual de un asesinato
  • 살인 매뉴얼
  • Manual d'un assassinat

Seen Murder Manual?

FAQ

Murder Manual FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Murder Manual, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Murder Manual?

Murder Manual runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Murder Manual released?

Murder Manual was released on May 24, 2020.

Who directed Murder Manual?

Murder Manual was directed by Kelly Hallmark and Sam N. Powell.

Who is in the cast of Murder Manual?

Murder Manual stars Emilia Clarke as Malu, Maria Olsen as Betty and Ned Van Zandt as Tim, among 21 credited actors.

Does Murder Manual have a post-credit scene?

No. Murder Manual has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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