Angel Heart (1987)

Angel Heart (1987) is a dark, atmospheric blend of noir, horror and mystery set in 1955. Down-on-his-luck private investigator Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) is hired by the enigmatic Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to track down vanished pre‑war crooner Johnny Favorite. What begins as a routine missing‑person case quickly devolves into a tense, violent odyssey through corrupt New York and the shadowy, voodoo‑tinged streets of New Orleans. As Angel questions former associates, lovers and doctors, people around him turn up dead and every clue pulls him deeper into black magic, paranoia and a mounting sense that the case is not what it seems. Viewing experience: the film is a slow‑burn mystery with strong period detail and a brooding, unsettling atmosphere. Expect moody cinematography, a creeping score, moments of graphic violence and transgressive, disturbing imagery; the story repeatedly shifts from gumshoe sleuthing to supernatural dread. The tone is bleak and uncompromising, with tension that builds to a morally and emotionally harrowing climax that forces Angel — and the audience — to confront identity, guilt and fate. If you watch Angel Heart, you’ll get a stylish, mature thriller that mixes classic noir investigation with occult horror: compelling performances, a sense of mounting unease, and a conclusion that stays with you. Content warning: adult themes, violence and disturbing scenes.

Actors: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet

Director: Alan Parker

Runtime: 113 min

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

7.0 /10 61 /100 7.2 /10 6.8 /10