Angel Heart: Still Messed Up After All These Years

Just rewatched "Angel Heart" last night, and wow, does that movie still pack a punch. I mean, yeah, it's got some '80s cheese sprinkled on top, but the underlying darkness and the slow-burn reveal just get under your skin. Mickey Rourke is phenomenal as Harry Angel. He perfectly captures that world-weary, down-on-his-luck detective vibe, but there's also this growing sense of unease as he delves deeper into the case. You can almost see the pieces of his reality fracturing as he goes further south. Lisa Bonet's performance is legitimately great. She's incredibly believable as Epiphany Proudfoot, and her scenes with Rourke are super charged with something that's both dangerous and alluring. Plus, the atmosphere in this film is incredible. The New Orleans setting feels genuinely oppressive, like the humidity and the secrets are suffocating Angel at every turn. That voodoo ceremony scene? Still gives me chills. I know some people find it a bit over-the-top now, but back then, it was pretty groundbreaking, visually. What really hit me this time around (and I hate to admit I missed it a bit when I was younger!) is the whole commentary on the cost of ambition and the consequences of your choices. That final confessional scene with De Niro...brutal. Really rams home the film's central point. I also think the film's ambiguity is key. It doesn't spoon-feed you anything. You're left piecing things together alongside Angel, which makes the whole experience that much more unsettling. Okay, so it might be a bit slow for some modern viewers, and the plot does get a bit convoluted at times. Still, "Angel Heart" remains a genuinely disturbing and thought-provoking film. It's a masterclass in creating atmosphere and suspense and Rourke's performance really makes it something special. I'm curious what others think about how the film holds up today—any thoughts?