Angel Heart (1987)

Director: Alan Parker

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Robert de Niro, Lisa Bonet

A private investigator is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cyphre to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite. But the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.

I can’t decide whether I view this all-star cast horror thriller as a masterpiece, or as an excuse for a display of nudity and voodoo.

The film is set in 1955 New York. Mickey Rourke stars as private detective Harry Angel, who gets hired by Louis Cyphre (Robert de Niro) to find out if a certain Johnny Favorite, or Liebling, is still alive. His investigation takes him on a rollercoaster journey of fear, with people involved in the case dying around him.

The suspense is pretty well set up. I enjoyed the sense of mystery, and Cyphre himself as a very mysterious character. Hail to the cinematographer for a job very well done. Certainly from a cinematography point of view, this was masterfully done. The performances from the entire cast is also very good and believable.

There’s a lot of reference to black magic and voodoo, and false prophets. And then there’s the sensual element, with plenty of frontal nudity – some subtle, some in your face. My main criticism in ‘Angel Heart’ is the main character smoking too much – maybe because of the sponsor, Camel? It was rather obvious and a bit annoying.

The film does feel a bit slow at times, but nevertheless remains interesting thanks to the mystery. There’s a shocking twist indicating evil was at work all along. ‘Angel Heart’ is a film that will no doubt appeal to an acquired taste only, but I believe definitely deserves a watch.

Would I watch it again? Having seen it twice already, I doubt it.