Watch Kill the Poor

Kill the Poor is a darkly comedic drama from 2003 directed by Alan Taylor, based on the novel of the same name by Joel Rose. The film takes place in New York City in the 1990s and tells the story of a young couple struggling to make ends meet in a world that seems hellbent on grinding them down. The film is a poignant examination of urban poverty, and the lengths to which people will go to survive in a system that seems designed to crush their spirits and their aspirations.

The film follows the lives of two struggling artists: Bing (Clara Bellar), a painter, and Winnie (Jon Budinoff), a writer. They live in a run-down apartment in the East Village, scraping together rent money by working odd jobs and selling their belongings. But despite their best efforts, they can't seem to get ahead - the bills keep piling up, the landlord is breathing down their necks, and their dreams of success and fulfillment are slipping further out of reach.

Their lives take a turn when they meet Lenny (Heather Burns), an enigmatic and charismatic street hustler who seems to know just how to make a quick buck in the city's underworld. Lenny shows Bing and Winnie the ropes, introducing them to the seedy world of drug dealing and petty crime. At first, the couple is hesitant, but as their financial situation grows more desperate, they find themselves unable to resist the temptation of easy money.

As they descend further into the criminal underworld, the film becomes a meditation on the psychological toll of poverty and the difficult choices it forces people to make. Bing and Winnie find themselves increasingly alienated from each other, as the stress and danger of their situation drive a wedge between them. And as they become more embroiled in Lenny's schemes, they find themselves facing dangerous enemies and ethical dilemmas that threaten to destroy everything they've worked for.

Despite the film's dark subject matter, there is a sense of humor and humanity that runs throughout Kill the Poor. The characters are fully realized and sympathetic, and the film is shot in a gritty, energetic style that captures the frenetic energy and high stakes of life in New York City. It's a film that's raw and real, unafraid to confront the stark realities of poverty while still finding moments of hope and beauty in even the bleakest situations.

Overall, Kill the Poor is a powerful and unforgettable film, exploring the darker corners of the human experience with sensitivity, honesty, and depth. It's a film that speaks to the struggles that so many people face in our society, and it's a film that is unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon.

Kill the Poor is a 2003 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2 and a MetaScore of 52.