Review of The Hot Spot (1990) by Tonypolito — 15 Aug 2010

An all-round solid piece of neo-noir work, recommended for fans of such - as well as anyone looking for soft but steamy late-night-cable stuff.

An appropriately sweltering Texas dustbowl town is the neo-noir setting into which grifter/drifter Johnson wanders for a quick Lone Star at a topless honky-tonk. The look-see inspires Johnson to fast-talk his way into dealing junkers off an unpaved car lot, a vantage point from which he can case out the town proper.

Soon enough, he's wedged in tight between fresh-off-the-farm ingenue Jennifer Connelly and the golddigger wife of the lot's owner (Madsen) who's manipulative, libidinous and drawling on like Blanche DuBois while wallowing about the halls (and bedrooms) of her empty, gilded mansion-cage. Wedged so tight that he just can't seem to make that bank job he's scheming fit quite as neatly as he'd like.

Stir one scummy jealous lover into this brew and you can be sure this is one deal where somebody's going to be drawing a real short straw. Place your bets and saddle up for the ride.

The film's sort of a sleeper, but as sexy, twisty neo-noir goes it's done very well, easily comparable to "Palmetto," if not better. Of the constantly sweat-drenched trio, it's Madsen's performance that stands tallest, undeniably defining her as true talent. Her performance ensnares the viewer within her sexed-up black widow's web as easily as it does Johnson.

Connelly, barely-of-age, and holding only her role as the child dancer in "Once Upon a Time in America" as a major credit, had to yield director Dennis Hopper an extended topless shot to get/stay on the playing field, but she wears her entire role very well, clearly demonstrating tremendous future promise.

As for Johnson, his role's a natural fit.

RECOMMENDATION: In my personal library & more-than-one-spin recommended.