Review of Angel Heart (1987) by Harpreet S — 19 Apr 2012

Alan Parker's "Angel Heart" is a mystery/horror film about Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke), a detective who is hired by Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to locate a pop singer who reneged on a debt in the 1950s.

What the movie lacks is the horror itself and the mystery, except for maybe a chilling love making scene. I think the big mistake in this film was to give little hints about what is actually happening, so by the time the film concludes there is almost nothing that surprises me, I pretty much had solved the "mystery" before it is deciphered in the picture.

"Angel Heart" succumbs to immaturity in the end with silly things like De Niro and a baby having different color eyes to signify the devil or whatever, which I found a bit silly. It also tries to be spooky with weird objects, but it didn't work for me.

I had similar problems with "Pan's Labyrinth" or even "Donnie Darko" with the bunny and Gyllenhaal's obnoxious face, just things that do not impress me at all in a film. "Angel Heart" certainly could have been a good film if not for the conclusion; I was very much engaged and entertained for more than half of it, especially whenever I saw Robert De Niro.

All in all, Alan Parker's film is a typical Hollywood cliché. I can't say I did not expect this, but it was still fun. I would rather recommend Anthony Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley.

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