MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for A Covenant with Death

A Covenant with Death

1967 · 97 min

A tense, morally charged courtroom drama that simmers with small-town prejudice and the weight of an unjust system.

Directed by
Lamont Johnson
Genres
Drama
Starring
George Maharis, Earl Holliman, Laura Devon
Tagline
The bristling best seller comes to angry life.
Overview
An innocent man is found guilty of murder and sentenced to death, but as he's about to be hanged he accidentally kills his executioner. He now faces a new trial, presided over by a young and inexperienced judge.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
Lamont Johnson
Genres
Drama
Starring
George Maharis, Earl Holliman, Laura Devon
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • tensestrength 2 of 3
  • darkstrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
  • melancholicstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • justice
  • morality
  • guilt
  • race
  • death
Places
  • small town
Era
period
Audience
adult
Form
  • single location
Content intensity
  • Gore mild
  • Language mild
  • Violence mild
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action3
Horror2
Humour2
Realism8
Romance3
Tension7
Darkness7
Complexity6
Emotional weight7

More like this

Titles like A Covenant with Death

Movie

12 Angry Men

1957

A sweltering, claustrophobic pressure cooker of words and sweat, where reason slowly chips away at certainty.

Tense, dark · about justice and morality · single location

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • justice
  • morality
  • single location
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
demanding
Runtime
97 min
Details
12 Angry MenHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

To Kill a Mockingbird

1962

A slow, sunlit memory of childhood that slowly tightens into a quiet, devastating moral reckoning.

Earnest · about justice and morality

Via
  • earnest
  • justice
  • morality
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
129 min
Details
To Kill a MockingbirdHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

The Defenders

1961–1965

A serious, talky courtroom drama that treats moral dilemmas with earnest gravity, asking you to weigh each case alongside the lawyers.

Same director: Lamont Johnson · Tense, earnest · about justice and morality

Also
Same director: Lamont Johnson
Via
  • tense
  • earnest
  • justice
  • morality
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
4
Details
The DefendersHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Trial

1955

A taut, socially conscious courtroom drama that simmers with prejudice and political manipulation, keeping you gripped and uneasy.

Tense, dark · about justice and morality

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • justice
  • morality
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
105 min
Details
TrialHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

High Noon

1952

A taut, real-time countdown that tightens like a noose, blending moral unease with quiet dread.

Tense, earnest · about justice and morality · single location

Via
  • tense
  • earnest
  • justice
  • morality
  • single location
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
85 min
Details
High NoonHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Fury

1936

A grim, gripping slow burn about mob injustice that turns into a bitter study of revenge and conscience.

Tense, dark · about justice and morality

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • justice
  • morality
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
92 min
Details
FuryHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Juror #2

2024

A slow-burning moral pressure cooker that keeps you uneasy, watching a decent man trapped by his own conscience.

Tense, dark · about justice and morality · single location

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • justice
  • morality
  • single location
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
114 min
Details
Juror #2Hidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Antesala de la silla eléctrica

1966

A grim, talky death-row drama that leans on moral urgency and procedural pleading rather than action.

Tense, dark · about justice and morality · single location

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • justice
  • morality
  • single location
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
80 min
Details
Antesala de la silla eléctricaHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

The Twelve

2019

A slow-burning, emotionally charged courtroom drama that keeps you guessing while probing the jurors' personal lives.

Tense, dark · about justice and morality

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • justice
  • morality
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Seasons
3
Details
The TwelveHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku

2026

A somber, dialogue-heavy chamber piece that weighs the cost of justice in the final hours before an execution.

Tense, dark · about justice and morality · single location

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • justice
  • morality
  • single location
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
107 min
Details
Lakshmikanthan Kolai VazhakkuHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Judd, for the Defense

1967–1969

A talky, issue-driven courtroom drama that feels earnest and of its time, rewarding patience with moral argument rather than action.

Same director: Lamont Johnson · Tense, earnest · about justice and morality

Also
Same director: Lamont Johnson
Via
  • tense
  • earnest
  • justice
  • morality
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
2
Details
Judd, for the DefenseHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Helena

2026

A quiet, uneasy small-town drama that simmers with gossip and guilt before turning cold and accusatory.

Tense, dark · about morality and guilt

Via
  • tense
  • dark
  • morality
  • guilt
Pacing
slow-burn
Attention
engaged
Runtime
70 min
Details
HelenaHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
drama
Directed by
Lamont Johnson
Written by
Lawrence B. Marcus, Saul Levitt
Starring
George Maharis, Earl Holliman, Laura Devon, Katy Jurado, Gene Hackman, Arthur O'Connell, Sidney Blackmer, John Anderson
Runtime
97 min
Country
United States of America
Languages
English

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.