Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Interview with the Assassin (2002) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Interview with the Assassin (2002) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2002 · 88 min · English
Directed by
Neil Burger
Starring
Raymond J. Barry, Dylan Haggerty, Renee Faia

A struggling TV news cameraman's life takes a dramatic turn when he meets his mysterious neighbor, Walter Ohlinger. Ohlinger makes the startling claim of being the shooter at the "grassy knoll" during the JFK assassination, launching the cameraman, Ron Kobeleski, on a dangerous search for the truth. Their investigation places them both in a precarious and threatening situation as they delve deeper into a decades-old conspiracy.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (2)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Interview with the Assassin
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Interview with the Assassin (2002)

Where can you watch Interview with the Assassin? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

2 main characters · contains spoilers

Interview with the Assassin Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Interview with the Assassin (2002), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Ron Kobeleski (Dylan Haggerty)

    Ron Kobeleski is an unemployed cameraman whose mundane life spirals into chaos after a shocking revelation from his neighbor. His journey portrays a man caught between skepticism and the allure of conspiracy, ultimately leading him to face dire consequences for his choices.

    • 🎥 Filmmaker
    • 🧠 Intellectual
    • 🥺 Tragic
  • Walter Ohlinger (Raymond J. Barry)

    Walter Ohlinger is a retired Marine who claims to have been a second shooter in the assassination of JFK. His character is driven by desperation and a need for validation, presenting a chilling confession that complicates the narrative around his legacy. His conflicting nature elicits both sympathy and skepticism from those around him.

    • 🪖 Veteran
    • 💀 Terminal
    • 😔 Complex

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Interview with the Assassin Take Place?

The setting of Interview with the Assassin (2002): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1963

The year 1963 is marked by significant events in American history, including the civil rights movement and the cold war tensions. It culminated in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, an event that shocked the nation and led to widespread speculation and conspiracy theories regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

Location

Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas, is known as a vibrant cultural and economic hub in the southern United States. It’s historically significant for being the site of President John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963, a pivotal moment in American history that continues to spark debate and conspiracy theories.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🏛️ Historical

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Interview with the Assassin Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Interview with the Assassin (2002) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Conspiracy

    The theme of conspiracy runs throughout the film as it delves into the secrets and hidden truths surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy. As characters navigate their beliefs and doubts, the narrative questions the reliability of perceived truths and the lengths individuals will go to protect their legacies.

  • Desperation

    Desperation is a central theme embodied by Walter Ohlinger, who, facing terminal illness and a desire to leave a mark on history, fabricates a shocking confession. This theme extends to Ron Kobeleski, whose monotonous life is dramatically disrupted, forcing him to confront the turbulent realities of truth and betrayal.

  • Justice

    The film explores the theme of justice as Ron Kobeleski grapples with his role in the aftermath of Ohlinger's claims. His journey highlights the complexities of morality, legality, and the consequences of choices made under extraordinary circumstances.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:12

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Interview with the Assassin Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Interview with the Assassin (2002): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is this movie set?

The movie is set in Dallas, Texas, the city where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Dallas is portrayed as a significant historical location known for this pivotal moment in American history.

  • dallas texas
  • setting
  • location
  • grassy knoll
  • president kennedy
Q2

When does the story take place?

The story centers around events from 1963, the year of President Kennedy's assassination. The narrative references the historical moment and its aftermath, exploring the conspiracy theories that have surrounded it for decades.

  • 1963
  • jfk assassination
  • time period
  • historical
  • 1960s
Q3

What is the conspiracy theme about in this film?

The conspiracy theme explores the secrets and hidden truths surrounding President Kennedy's assassination. The film questions the reliability of perceived truths and examines how individuals protect their legacies, even when those legacies involve massive historical deceptions.

  • conspiracy
  • truth
  • jfk assassination
  • secrets
  • cover-up
Q4

What does the desperation theme represent?

Desperation is embodied by Walter Ohlinger, a retired Marine facing terminal illness who confesses to being a second shooter at the grassy knoll. His need to leave a mark on history drives him to fabricate this shocking confession, reflecting how fear of irrelevance can lead to extreme actions.

  • desperation
  • walter ohlinger
  • terminal illness
  • legacy
  • confession
Q5

Who is Ron Kobeleski?

Ron Kobeleski is an unemployed TV news cameraman living a mundane life until his mysterious neighbor makes a startling claim. His journey portrays a man caught between skepticism and the allure of conspiracy, forced to confront dangerous realities about truth and betrayal.

  • ron kobeleski
  • cameraman
  • protagonist
  • dylan haggerty
Q6

Who is Walter Ohlinger?

Walter Ohlinger is a retired Marine who claims to have been a second shooter in the JFK assassination at the grassy knoll. His character is driven by desperation and a need for validation, presenting a chilling confession that complicates the narrative around his legacy.

  • walter ohlinger
  • retired marine
  • second shooter
  • grassy knoll
  • raymond j barry
Q7

What is Walter Ohlinger's claim about the assassination?

Walter Ohlinger claims he was the second shooter at the grassy knoll during President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. He asserts he fired the shot that killed the president, a revelation that sets the film's investigation into motion.

  • grassy knoll
  • second shooter
  • jfk assassination claim
  • walter ohlinger
Q8

What does the justice theme explore?

The justice theme examines Ron Kobeleski's struggle with his role in the aftermath of Ohlinger's claims. His journey highlights the complexities of morality, legality, and the consequences of choices made under extraordinary circumstances, questioning whether true justice is possible.

  • justice
  • morality
  • consequences
  • ron kobeleski
  • legal
Q9

What kind of atmosphere does this movie have?

The movie features a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere created through found-footage style cinematography. The persistent sense of danger and paranoia stems from the high-stakes subject matter of a presidential assassination and the constant threat of violence against the protagonist.

  • atmosphere
  • tone
  • found footage
  • tense
  • paranoia
  • danger
Q10

Why is Dallas significant in this story?

Dallas serves as the real-world location of President Kennedy's assassination, one of the most debated events in American history. The city's historical connection to this pivotal moment provides the foundation for the film's exploration of conspiracy theories and the search for hidden truths.

  • dallas
  • historical significance
  • jfk assassination
  • texas
  • american history

Movie threads

More Movies Like Interview with the Assassin, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Interview with the Assassin tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Paranoid thrillers of dangerous truth-seeking like Interview with the Assassin

Stories where the search for a dangerous truth turns the protagonist's world upside down. If you liked the tense investigation and growing fear in Interview with the Assassin, you'll find more movies like it here. This list features gripping thrillers where characters risk everything to uncover a conspiracy, leading to claustrophobic and paranoid narratives.

  • paranoid
  • tense
  • conspiracy
  • investigative
  • unsettling
  • claustrophobic
  • Tone: tense, paranoid, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically centers on an investigation that begins with a single clue or confession. The protagonist's initial curiosity morphs into obsession as they uncover layers of a conspiracy, facing threats and manipulation that erode their sense of safety and sanity, often leading to a tragic or isolating conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core psychological experience: the visceral fear and alienation that comes from pursuing a truth that powerful forces want to keep buried. They excel at creating a pervasive atmosphere of suspicion and high-stakes tension.

Bleak found-footage documentaries and thrillers like Interview with the Assassin

First-person narratives that document a harrowing journey toward a hopeless end. For viewers who appreciated the immersive, first-person camera perspective and somber ending of Interview with the Assassin. Discover more movies like it that use a documentary or found-footage style to tell tense, emotionally heavy stories with tragic conclusions.

  • unsettling
  • somber
  • gripping
  • immersive
  • fatalistic
  • tragic
  • Tone: unsettling, somber, tense
  • Pacing: steady, immersive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story is presented as raw footage, often from a single camera operator, documenting events as they unfold. This perspective creates immediate intimacy and tension. The narrative arc is typically a downward spiral, where the filmmaker becomes entangled in the events they are recording, leading to an inescapably dark resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their formal style and emotional impact. The found-footage approach amplifies tension and realism, while the shared focus on fatalistic journeys and tragic endings creates a cohesive viewing experience of despair and inevitability.

If you liked this

Movies Like Interview with the Assassin

Similar movies to Interview with the Assassin: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Interview with the Assassin (2002) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Interview with the Assassin in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app