Near the end of the Korean War, a platoon of U.S. soldiers is captured by communists and brainwashed. Following the war, the platoon is returned home, and Sergeant Raymond Shaw is lauded as a hero by the rest of his platoon. However, the platoon commander, Captain Bennett Marco, finds himself plagued by strange nightmares and soon races to uncover a terrible plot.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 5 wins & 8 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
Not a moment of The Manchurian Candidate lacks edge and tension and a cynical spin.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
Has an excoriating, destabilizing wit that seems as knowingly sophisticated today as it must have then.
– Hal Hinson,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
The Manchurian Candidate pops up with a rash supposition that could serve to scare some viewers half to death -- that is, if they should be dupes enough to believe it, which we solemnly trust they won't.
– Bosley Crowther,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Every once in a rare while a film comes along that works in all departments, with story, production and performance so well blended that the end effect is one of nearly complete satisfaction. Such is The Manchurian Candidate.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
7 May 2008
fresh:
powerful experience, alternately corrosive with dark parodic humor, suspenseful, moving, and terrifying.