Tagline
“The devil is in the details. And in the contract.”
The Review
Alan Parker's Angel Heart is a neo-noir horror masterpiece that combines hardboiled detective fiction with voodoo and Faustian mythology. Mickey Rourke plays a 1955 New York private eye hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro, in a role whose name you should say aloud) to find a missing singer. The investigation leads from Harlem to the bayous of Louisiana, and Parker gradually transforms the detective story into a supernatural horror film with one of cinema's most devastating twist endings. De Niro's performance — all long fingernails, boiled eggs, and quiet menace — is chillingly restrained. Lisa Bonet's controversial voodoo sex scene nearly earned the film an X rating.
Fun Fact
Robert De Niro's character is named Louis Cyphre — say it fast. Lisa Bonet's explicit scenes caused a public controversy with Bill Cosby, who tried to have them removed to protect The Cosby Show's family image. The film was shot in authentic New Orleans locations, and several crew members reported paranormal experiences on set.
Score Breakdown
Total Score
20/30
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