Product: Detour [VHS] (1945)
Rating: 4.0
A discovery
I had never heard of it before, but Detour was advertised on the cover as "putting the noir in film noir." I thought the sentence was silly, but I got the idea. Being a fan of film noir myself, I was intrigued. Well done, it is a truly engrossing experience--an eye into the lives of the "other half." The cover also went on to laud the performances of leads Tom Neal and Ann Savage (never heard of them, either) and, surprisingly, told the truth. This film was a ride.I wouldn't say it was well done, but it you can handle Roger Corman flicks, this should be a breeze. The acting is first-rate, the story is interesting (although the wraparound story is unnecessary and the ending is a puzzler), and the mood is set perfectly. The middle of the film is the best part. The way Neal and Savage interact with each other creates fireworks.I'm not sure I would recommend purchase (the DVD contains the film and naught else), but at only 68 minutes one viewing is definitely required.