Review of Kiss Me Deadly (1955) by Michael Y — 24 Apr 2011

I was ordered to watch this film again after I gave it a luke-warm review to friends and I'm really glad that I did. Kiss me Deadly certainly reveals much more on second viewing. Technically, the film is fascinating.

It is a difficult thing to do OTT performances and keep it believable though and two of the performances here, even considering the intention still don't work for me - the car mechanic and blonde femme fatale are unbearable.

Meeker is really great as Mike Hammer though and his questionable hero forms the lynchpin of this offbeat but classic noir film. The director's intention for the film is what gives it classic status for sure, but I still think that while the creative decision to cloud Mike's motivation throughout is genuinely interesting, it causes a roaming around and not getting anywhere structural lull in the middle of the film.

But then I guess pushing the conventions was what this film was all about and I'm really glad I was convinced to watch it again.