Review of Sudden Impact (1983) by Daniel K — 30 Dec 2009

3: The best of the five Dirty Harry movies and the only one directed by Eastwood. His predilection for darkness is already very evident. It isn't as extreme as Argento pictures or Eastwood's later films (like Million Dollar Baby or Unforgiven), but it definitely adds something to the mood.

Eastwood is often seen in silhouette and many of the faces and sets are barely seen at all. This fits with the content as well as it is probably the darkest story. It's a story of a gang rape of two sisters that puts one of them in an insane asylum and turns the other into a killer.

Eastwood is far more efficient in both story and execution than the other directors in the series. Having the love interest double as the killer lends an extra element of danger and allows the film to focus solely on the characters that matter rather than wasting time and effort trying to build a surrounding cast of interesting characters as well.

This is something the Dirty Harry pictures definitely have not excelled at. There are very few memorable ones other than Dirty Harry. Sondra Locke and Eastwood have solid on screen chemistry and both give very believable performances.

Harry's character is far more complex here than he was in the beginning, which I'd say is likely due to Eastwood's influence as well. One can't imagine Harry doing anything but letting her go free in the end either.

It seems as if revenge was justice in the end. I think I was probably too harsh on the first couple Dirty Harry pictures. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood.