Woah, To Live and Die in L.A. is WAY Darker Than I Remember!

Okay guys, so I rewatched 'To Live and Die in L.A.' last night (it's on Criterion Channel rn, just sayin') and damn, this movie is messed up! I kinda remembered it being a stylish 80s action flick with some cool Wang Chung on the soundtrack, but the whole vibe is so much more nihilistic than that. Like, Richard Chance is supposed to be the good guy, but he's a total psychopath, right? He basically ruins everyone's life around him trying to catch Masters, and honestly, Masters isn't exactly a saint either. I think William Petersen's performance is legendary, you can practically feel the guy's obsession. Willem Dafoe is amazing as always, but he had tons of roles like this. Petersen is so good in this I'm legitamately surprised he never becamse a bigger star. My theory is that the whole point of the movie is to show that there aren't any good guys. Chance's actions are just as morally bankrupt as Masters', and the whole investigation is fueled by ego and revenge. That cop he kills at the end? Brutal. Cold. And totally changes how you see Chance up to that point, I think. I'm not saying Masters is justified, but Chance's 'justice' feels way more corrupt. It's almost like (and hear me out, I'm reaching here) the director is trying to say that the whole 'cops vs. criminals' thing is just a different side of the same coin. Both sides are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, and the line between right and wrong gets completely blurred. And the ending? Forget about your typical Hollywood happy ending! That ending is a punch to the gut! I'm still processing it. Am I crazy thinking this, or did anyone else pick up on this too? Also, side note: that car chase scene is still one of the best ever. No CGI needed, just pure 80s stuntwork insanity! I also think they under-utilize Debra Feuer, I wish she had more screen time. She is fantastic.