Review of Touch of Evil (1958) by Alex K — 21 Oct 2017

Orson Welle's "Touch of Evil" has a long history of evil within itself. The film was heavily reworked after Welle's finished the film and went through many studio executives throughout the years, getting edited and edited over and over by crew after crew until Welles himself left a 53 page memo on how it should be fixed.

Those wishes were heard finally, years after his death, and here we have one of Welles most exciting films. It's absolutely captivating in its approach, despite its absurd film noir plot. It hints at comedy but keeps its cool, luring us into twist after twist.

There are too many clever things about this film, I found myself playing a game while watching the film trying to figure out all the little details Welles gives us onscreen, the story becomes second nature, rightfully so because it is as twisted and convoluted as any film you've seen.

"Touch of Evil" looks spectacular, it feels classic with its slow camera pace, but sleek and modern with its fast cuts, long shots, and stylish tracking camera. There are a few things that you'll have to forgive while watching the film, such as Charles Heston playing the role of a Mexican lawman (!), but if you can get pass the cheeky facts then you'll find yourself lost in Welles world of corruption and deceit.