Angel Heart

Name: Angel Heart
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Released: March 6, 1987
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Brownie McGhee, Charles Gordone, Charlotte Rampling, Eliott Keener, Elizabeth Whitcraft

1987

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: March 6, 1987 | TV-MA

Starring: Brownie McGhee, Charles Gordone, Charlotte Rampling, Eliott Keener, Elizabeth Whitcraft, Lisa Bonet, Michael Higgins, Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Stocker Fontelieu

Summary: 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.

Director: Alan Parker

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Horror

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

Johanna Steinmetz

The centerpiece for Angel Heart is Mickey Rourke's carefully modulated performance as Harry Angel. Ever a resourceful actor, Rourke is a marvel of complexity here, a blend of innocence and cunning, a mask of streetwise nonchalance over personal torment. [06 Mar 1987, p.F]

Roger Ebert

It has the unsettled logic of a nightmare, in which nothing fits and everything seems inevitable and there are a lot of arrows in the air and they are all flying straight at you. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

A diabolical treat with Rourke and De Niro in fine form. Read full review

Sheila Benson

In retrospect, there are gaps in the story, a crucial lack of parallelism about the murders, one interview in which Rourke makes amazing leaps of knowledge from we-don't-know where. But the performance that fuels it all, Rourke's unfolding portrayal of a man on a spiraling slide downward toward a truth he doesn't want to learn, may be enough to carry us beyond quibbles. [06 Mar 1987, p.C1]

Pauline Kael

It all looks fussed over. Parker simply doesn't have the gift of making evil seductive, and he edits like a flasher.

Vincent Canby

Mr. Parker is an eclectic film maker. He seems to have no readily identifiable obsessions that define supposedly more serious directors. He's a very able technician who needs a good screenplay, which is what's missing here. Read full review

Joseph Jon Lanthier

It would all be laughable if the evil deeds and premature deaths and withered witch doctor hands led us to more than the protagonist’s unnecessarily messy self-discovery. As it is, it’s mostly just gratingly pointless. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kai82

Apr 25, 2020

A somehow overlooked detective story with occult elements set in the fifties in New York. The private investigator Harry Angel is hired by the mysterious businessman Louis Cyphre to find the formerly famous musician Johnny Favourite who disappeared at the end of World War II. As he digsA somehow overlooked detective story with occult elements set in the fifties in New York. The private investigator Harry Angel is hired by the mysterious businessman Louis Cyphre to find the formerly famous musician Johnny Favourite who disappeared at the end of World War II. As he digs deeper he is draw into the occult, voodoo and supernatural looking elements. The main story is excellent but in a way you only fully comprehend it when the final twist is revealed. Like with every good detective story there are some hints that point in this direction and of cause there is far more than meets the eye. This is also the reason why I must stop here because spoilers will ruin the movie. There is an excellent cast of main actors with Mickey Rouge, Robert deNiro and Lisa Bonet. All made an excellent performance that helped to deliver the characters and story. Special warning: If you know Lisa Bonet only from the Cosby Show than you can be shocked by her role. The style, visuals and soundtrack increase the immersion and create a good atmosphere. I just realised that I cant write anything more because of spoilers. Overall this is an overlooked movie with a story you can discuss for hours with friends. Bonus knowledge: It is based on the book of the same name and is one of the few book adaptations that is equal good as the source material.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

eva3si0n

Apr 29, 2022

Angel Heart is a classic detective film of the late 80s with elements of neo-noir and psychological horror films. A star-studded cast, great acting by Mickey Rourke and a slyly braided plot. A lover of this genre, Angel Heart will clearly like the presence of an otherworldly and unknown.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

SteveS

Aug 3, 2019

This movie may not float everyone's boat, but it has enough substance and suspense to make it worth a watch.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

gracjanski

Mar 23, 2021

Somehow I didnt like this movie: it is too long and the story is **** sometimes. Maybe the detective setting is saturated. The end is interesting of course, because the whole movie is about it.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

mohamad91hk

May 15, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The film attracts you until the end, then it makes you disappointed. The twist at the end was so silly, especially when Mickey Rourke (Harry Angel) found out that he killed all suspects !! I think it could be better.

I really liked Mickey Rourke acting, He deserved to be awarded the Oscar for this performance.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Voodoo123

Sep 27, 2019

Wonderfully textured cinematography with some arresting imagery sporting a talented cast with good production overall sadly never quite coalesced. The combination of an under cooked screenplay and some messy editing resulting in pacing issues and so Angel Heart never quite took me away toWonderfully textured cinematography with some arresting imagery sporting a talented cast with good production overall sadly never quite coalesced. The combination of an under cooked screenplay and some messy editing resulting in pacing issues and so Angel Heart never quite took me away to the dark places it so clearly wanted me to go.... See 1990's Jacobs ladder for a more convincing spooky atmospheric whirring. Still an entertaining watch though!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

ozzsoffy

Mar 23, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I choose this movie because of a computer game I played, Gabriel Knight, that was based on this movie.

it is a different kind of movie, very film nuar, very dark, it was good. I liked it, but I will not watch it again and I dont think it is for everyone.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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