One evening, Hammer gives a ride to Christina, an attractive hitchhiker on a lonely country road, who has escaped from the nearby lunatic asylum. Thugs waylay them and force his car to crash. When Hammer returns to semi-consciousness, he hears Christina being tortured until she dies. Hammer, both for vengeance and in hopes that "something big" is behind it all, decides to pursue the case.

Ralph Meeker
as Mike Hammer

Albert Dekker
as Dr. G.E. Soberin

Paul Stewart
as Carl Evello

Juano Hernández
as Eddie Yeager

Wesley Addy
as Lt. Pat Murphy

Marian Carr
as Friday

Maxine Cooper
as Velda

Cloris Leachman
as Christina Bailey

Gaby Rodgers
as Lily Carver

Nick Dennis
as Nick
John Chard
Yesterday I was looking for a thread, today I'm looking for a piece of string. Mike Hammer is driving down a dark highway when a half naked blonde forces him to stop, this event sends Hammer spiralling on a journey that may have a cataclysmic consequence for all involved. Kiss Me Deadly is a ...