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Poster for Touch of Evil

Touch of Evil

The strangest vengeance ever planned!

1958 · 1h 51m · PG-13 Crime, Drama, Thriller
Directed by Orson Welles

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Overview

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

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
96%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Expressionistic in the extreme, filled with shadows, angles and cinematic flourishes, the film raises the usual brooding nightmare ambiance of film noir to a level few other pictures have attempted.

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Fresh

Having the Touch of Evil envisioned by our most creative filmmaker, is a wondrous gift no movie lover should miss.

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Fresh

[Welles'] scenes with brothel-keeper Marlene Dietrich have nothing to do with the plot and everything to do with the rotting heart of this amazing fable: the apotheosis of pulp.

Anthony Lane, New Yorker
Fresh

Indeed, just to see and hear the extraordinary 3 minute and 20 second opening sequence -- a fluid tour de force tracking shot -- without impediment of opening credits and street-sound-masking movie score is accomplishment enough.

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Fresh

I first saw it when I was 14 and thought it was one of the worst pictures ever -- garish, oppressive, and appallingly overacted. Grown up, I'd go with those same adjectives, except now I think it's one of the best.

David Edelstein, Slate

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