Review of Touch of Evil (1958) by Gavin S — 04 Mar 2014
Touch of Evil is to movies what The Velvet Underground's first album was to Rock Music. A film that strongly influenced everyone who saw it, including tons of directors. It's a masterclass in direction, taking a relatively simple story and through the noir filter, making it into something much darker, sinister, yet not at all suprising.
Charlton Heston is billed as the lead in this movie, but this is all Orson Welles. His direction and performance together just work. A cop who makes sure he takes the guilty down, no matter if he can prove it or not.
The real tragedy is wondering what he was like as a cop before the murder of his wife, which was obviously the turning point in his life. You feel far more sympathy and interest in his character than you ever do in Heston's, though it is an important role to put up against Welles.
Janet Leigh is also very good as Heston's new bride, who's innocence won't last the weekend as she's drawn into the seedy world of corruption and just a touch...of evil.
This review of Touch of Evil (1958) was written by Gavin S on 04 Mar 2014.
Touch of Evil has generally received very positive reviews.
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