Angel Heart

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ANGEL HEART (1987) Directed by Alan Parker. Starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet and Charlotte Rampling. Haunting music score by Trevor Roper. This movie is a cross between the film noir and horror genres. It has been referred to as occult noir.

Set in the 1950s, a down-on-his-luck private investigator named Harry Angel is hired to find a missing person: a crooner by the name of Johnny Favorite. The blood-drenched trail leads him from New York to New Orleans and into the world of the occult.

This film caused some controversy when it was released, because Lisa Bonet, who then starred in the Cosby Show, was in a few risque scenes. But that is not the only reason I like it. I think it effectively blends hard-boiled detective fiction and horror to make a memorable supernatural thriller. Take Sam Spade and throw him into FAUST and this is what happens.

Based on the novel FALLING ANGEL by William Hjortsberg. This novel was selected by writer William F. Nolan for the book HORROR 100 BEST BOOKS. He called it "One of the best horror novels of the century." It was also highly praised by Stephen King. Both the novel and the movie are equally good. I regret that some of the scenes in the book were omitted from the movie; but in some ways, I think the movie is better than the book.

The movie is very atmospheric and full of great dialogue.

"Alas, how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise."