Review of Trouble in Mind (1985) by Robert Z — 21 Jan 2019

The closer a work gets to greatness but misses, the worse the result will seem. Trouble In Mind fits the bill. The tone is uneven--is it serious, self-parodying, satirical?--and that question introduces an interesting tension.

Is the script cliched and implausible by design, or just lazy bad writing? Is this a send-up of the noir genre, or an attempt to redefine it? Is rape-y protagonist Hawk meant to be a creep, or is the audience expected to tacitly endorse his toxic masculinity? When our damsel in distress runs aimlessly through the streets, is the absurdity intentional? Does intention matter in a work of art? As it progresses, the film becomes both more violent and ridiculous.

It seems to be playing for shock and laughter, but there's a lingering whiff of self-seriousness. Aspects of the look and tone anticipate the Coens and Tarantino, but that might just be a forward reflection of the noir genre the film plunders.

While these questions might fuel conversation, the film itself is almost unwatchable.