ANGEL HEART

released 14 OctOber 1987 | 18 | blu-ray (4K/standard)/ dVd/download Director alan Parker Cast Mickey rourke, robert de Niro, lisa bonet, charlotte rampling

A gumbo of violence and occultism, Alan Parker’s bluesy, voodoo-drenched detective tale follows PI Harry Angel into a very personal heart of darkness.

Mickey Rourke’s an engagingly vulnerable hero, but it’s Robert De Niro who owns the film as Angel’s mysterious client. All taloned nails and dapper suits, his chillingly mischievous turn makes munching an egg an act of existential terror.

It all hinges on a killer twist but rewatch value is high, not just to spot the clues but because it’s so exquisitely shot, a world of half-lit stairwells and delta sweat steeped in almost palpable dread. Some frames resemble a cursed Edward Hopper painting, Americana decaying before your eyes.

Extras This restoration comes with an old commentary and intro by the director. He’s also the subject of a 2014 French TV interview (26 minutes): chiefly focused on Angel Heart, it offers intriguing insights into the charged working relationship between Rourke and De Niro. You also get “A Background To Voodoo”, six documentary featurettes on the religion. Contemporary promos and profile interviews provide tantalising glimpses of filming, as do snippets of on-set footage. Plus: another Parker interview (eight minutes); gallery; trailer; a 48-page booklet written by the director. Nick Setchfield