So many fine reviews of this film and so good to see that the appreciation of what makes it great, runs so deep.
It creates a fantastic atmosphere, I never lived in NY in the 50's but I did in this film.
It generates intense visceral fear without the need for gratuitous violence or gore.
It has great performances from De Niro, Rourke and Bonet. Sublime portrayals of sinister brooding evil, edgy sleazy guilt, and powerful yet vulnerable beauty, respectively.
The plot, and the tension, build relentlessly to the cataclysmic ending with (for my money) the greatest piece of cinematic imagery I have ever seen. In keeping with the film it is understated, and IMO devastatingly chilling.
If other reviewers haven't mentioned it then I would like to encourage fans of this film to read William Hjortsberg's Fallen Angel on which the film was based.
Its a great book and despite the fact that, having watched the film, you know the ending it still slams into you like a steam train.
Great book, great film.
It creates a fantastic atmosphere, I never lived in NY in the 50's but I did in this film.
It generates intense visceral fear without the need for gratuitous violence or gore.
It has great performances from De Niro, Rourke and Bonet. Sublime portrayals of sinister brooding evil, edgy sleazy guilt, and powerful yet vulnerable beauty, respectively.
The plot, and the tension, build relentlessly to the cataclysmic ending with (for my money) the greatest piece of cinematic imagery I have ever seen. In keeping with the film it is understated, and IMO devastatingly chilling.
If other reviewers haven't mentioned it then I would like to encourage fans of this film to read William Hjortsberg's Fallen Angel on which the film was based.
Its a great book and despite the fact that, having watched the film, you know the ending it still slams into you like a steam train.
Great book, great film.
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