Review of Angel Heart (1987) by Stuart K — 17 Jan 2009

Based upon a novel by Legend writer, William Hjortsberg. Alan Parker creates this darkly atmospheric film-noir, which deals with a battle of good and evil, has sex and violence but it's well made to its name.

Set in New York in 1955, it has down and out private detective Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke), being hired by the dark and mysterious Louis Cyphe (Robert De Niro), to look for a missing person by the name of Johnny Favorite, a musician who had a contract with Cyphe.

Angel goes out to look for him, but nothing is what it seems, and everyone he interviews regarding Favorite ends up dead. The case takes him to the Deep South in New Orleans, where he encounters Epiphany Proudfoot (Lisa Bonet), Favorites illegitamate daughter and voodoo priestess Margaret Krusemark (Charlotte Rampling).

Parker does well with this material, and gets the best out of his actors. De Niro amounts to nothing more than an extended cameo, but he performs with relish. And Rourke has rarely been better, and he is a very underrated actor.

It's twist may be a bit unbelievable, but with what's gone on before in the film, it's to have been expected.