Palmetto

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Alain E Definitely watchable as a potboiler. There are some complexities in the plot not easily explained. Chloe Chevigny exits prematurely as the rich guy’s daughter that the main conspirators want out of the picture. Who is then the female corpse that appears in the bungalow towards the end? And since Elizabeth Shue’s character is not the rich guy’s wife how they expect to inherit all his money after he dies. And of course is the medical inconsistencies that the rich husband needs oxygen at home when resting but can be out and about without assistance or looking short of breath. The movie is based on a James Hadley Chase book who turned out large numbers of similar stories. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/13/25 Full Review Audience Member This is very average film noir set against the Hot & Humid Florida backdrop. Woody Harrelson doesn't give one of his best performances and the voice over work by him is cringe worthy. It still has some nice twists and keeps the viewer guessing a little bit all the way up to the end. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review ronald h Did you ever notice that in Florida noir films, regardless of the era, there is apparently no air conditioning? The men are all sweaty in the heat and humidity, while the women are always mysteriously cool and dry. Also, in spite of the blazing sunshine, nobody has a tan. Palmetto contains all these cliches, and many more. The women strut around in sexy dresses, swinging their hips like good femme fatales, and Woody Harrelson's protagonist dresses like a guy out of a Raymond Chandler novel: suit pants, long sleeved shirts, and suspenders in the 90 degree heat. No shorts and T shirt for him. That wouldn't be "noir." Both Elizabeth Shue and Chloe Sevigny demonstrate their inability to act. Harrelson is really the only skilled actor in this film. He's in great form. Of course, in film noir, there are no "good" guys. But he's so hapless, we root for him in spite of his stupidity. The plot is clever enough to keep us watching. It gets absurdly twisty in the last third, but I shamelessly hung in there for the final payoff--and it's a good one, rather self-satirizing. South Florida (Anna Maria Island, Fort Myers, and Palmetto) looks appropriately steamy, and several palmetto bugs make cameo appearances (seriously). I haven't read the book the film is based on, Just Another Sucker by James Hadley Chase, but after seeing Palmetto, I'd like to. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Didn't rewatch so fudging the rating, had the VHS Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/02/17 Full Review Audience Member I had fond memories of this sweaty Southern Noir from the old video store days, and I was very pleased that the revisit paid off. Woody Harrelson plays an ex-con who gets fished into a faked kidnapping that quickly turns real, leaving him in a world of trouble, and it's a fun ride. Well worth a look if you haven't seen it. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Great Film Noir...... Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Palmetto

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