Touch of Evil

1958

1 hr. 35 min.

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

95%

87 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When a car bomb explodes on the American side of the U.S./Mexico border, Mexican drug enforcement agent Miguel Vargas (Charlton Heston) begins his investigation, along with American police captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles). When Vargas begins to suspect that Quinlan and his shady partner, Menzies (Joseph Calleia), are planting evidence to frame an innocent man, his investigations into their possible corruption quickly put himself and his new bride, Susie (Janet Leigh), in jeopardy.

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Critics Consensus

Artistically innovative and emotionally gripping, Orson Welles' classic noir is a visual treat, as well as a dark, sinister thriller.

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Alec C

Evil has its influence everywhere, even in the eyes of the law! Detective Vargas investigates a car bombing, only to learn that Captain Hank Quinlan plants evidence to get convictions and attempts to frame Vargas for his crimes, spurring a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Dark and dreary, the evil presence is palpable in every scene as it threatens to swallow all of the whole!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Nik75 J

The performance from Welles is outstanding. A well crafted film noir masterpiece with many twists and turns. Make sure to watch the restored version.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

Full Review

matthias s

Touch of Evil, a cinematic classic, remains well-written and stands the test of time. Orson Welles, the mastermind behind the camera and in front of it, is incredible as always, carrying the film with his captivating presence. The plot, though decent, doesn't break new ground, reminding us that it's no Citizen Kane, yet it's well-crafted. However, Charles Heston as a Mexican is a stretch and takes you out of the experience, lacking believability. Despite this flaw, the scenes with Janet Leigh are filled with suspense, showcasing the film's ability to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Welles, with his brilliance, turns the movie into a gripping experience, making the villain truly memorable. Touch of Evil may not revolutionize storytelling, but it's undeniably well-made and proves that Orson Welles has an unmatched ability to captivate audiences.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Alec B

I love how weird this movie is. Yes it's suspenseful, yes the direction is superb, but it is the deliberately muddled plot and oddball characters make the proceedings so memorable.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

Sean S

Orsen Welles at his peak, Film Noir at it's peak. One of the very few 5/5 films.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

Jay H

I'm gonna go out on a limb: David Lynch saw this movie when he was young, and thought to himself "when I make movies, everyone will act like Dennis Weaver's character". Anyhoo, the Reconstructed Version is the cut I prefer.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

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Orson Welles

Director

Charlton Heston

Ramon Miguel "Mike" Vargas

Orson Welles

Police Captain Hank Quinlan

Janet Leigh

Susan "Susie" Vargas

Joseph Calleia

Police Sergeant Pete Menzies

Akim Tamiroff

Uncle Joe Grandi

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Fred Camper

Chicago Reader

But as masterful as Welles’s filming is, what makes Touch of Evil a staggering masterpiece is the global quality of his style...

Rated: 4/4

Jun 16, 2022

Full Review

Budd Wilkins

Slant Magazine

Classic film noirs epitome and epitaph, Orson Welless Touch of Evil gets a stunning new UHD upgrade from Kino Lorber.

Apr 25, 2022

Full Review

Xan Brooks

Independent (UK)

Citizen Kane may be the more weighty, rounded work, but Touch of Evil is a heap more fun.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 20, 2019

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

It's a full toybox, or candy box, fattening and immensely pleasurable.

Rated: A+

Nov 29, 2022

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The film noir genre's visual style has Touch of Evil to thank for its contributions in sound and cinematography as Orson Welles and Russell Metty are a match made in heaven.

Rated: 4.5/5

Nov 14, 2022

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“Touch of Evil” is a movie filled with craft and vision.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 27, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

When a car bomb explodes on the American side of the U.S./Mexico border, Mexican drug enforcement agent Miguel Vargas (Charlton Heston) begins his investigation, along with American police captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles). When Vargas begins to suspect that Quinlan and his shady partner, Menzies (Joseph Calleia), are planting evidence to frame an innocent man, his investigations into their possible corruption quickly put himself and his new bride, Susie (Janet Leigh), in jeopardy.

Director: Orson Welles
Screenwriter: Orson Welles, Paul Monash, Franklin Coen
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Universal International Pictures
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2014

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