A Time to Kill/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Artistic License: Law: Carl commits cold-blooded pre-meditated murder. He pleads temporary insanity. The defense's closing argument does not mention insanity, but plays on the jury's emotions to convince of justifiable homicide, after failing to prove temporary insanity. And that's just the biggest example.
  • Complete Monster: The two child rapists. Thanks, Carl!
  • Designated Hero: Our hero is a vigilante who kills two child rapists without even a proper trial, and wounds a bystander on top of it. Not surprisingly, the movie caused controversy in France for what seems to be promotion of death penalty.
  • He Really Can Act: Matthew McConaughey shows remarkable depth and assurance as Jake Brigante and effortlessly holds his own against a cast of veterans.
  • Memetic Mutation: "YES, THEY DESERVED TO DIE, AND I HOPE THEY BURN IN HELL!"
  • Nightmare Fuel: The rape of 10-year-old Tonya Hailey. Even though we don't see all that much, what we are shown and told is horrifying enough. Even worse, it's all toned down from its counterpart in the book.
  • Straw Man Has a Point: Intentional, as it adds to the film's depth. The prosecution maintains that it is never excusable to take justice into one's own hands, regardless of circumstances.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/A_Time_to_Kill/YMMV?oldid=1976622"