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After Dark, My Sweet (1990)

tomatometer

67

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

audience

56

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 1,436

My Rating

Movie Info

Adapted from a novel by pulp writer Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet evokes memories of the film noirs of yore. Jason Patric plays Collie, a short-fused ex-boxer who gets mixed up with alcoholic widow Fay (Rachel Ward) and burned-out former lawman Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern). These two lowlifes involve Collie in a kidnapping scheme. At first willing to go along with the plan, Collie tires of Fay's drunken mood swings and seeks out new companionship. Doctor George Dickinson proves all too eager to

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Mar 26, 2002

Live Home Video

Cast

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (3) | DVD (1)

A brisk, entertaining contemporary melodrama.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film is a hot-wired crime thriller that captures [Jim] Thompson's flair for hard action, malicious wit and fevered eroticism.

May 12, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
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Foley has brought the novel subtly up to date, and does a good job of maintaining Thompson's artful ambiguity.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
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If anything, though, Foley makes Thompson's killing universe too inviting, too sunny and comfortable. He's missed the essence of Thompson, but all in all, there are worse ways of failing.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Patric plays one of those sweet and totally limited ex-boxers that only seem to exist in the movies and in pulp novels.

February 23, 2011 Full Review Source: Reverse Shot | Comment
Reverse Shot

After the compromised result of the noirish At Close Range, Foley shows imporovement in giving Jim Thompson's 1955 tale the right tone and visuals, though he should have cast the femme fatale with a better actress than Rachel Ward.

February 16, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Tour-de-force performances all-round

June 11, 2005 Comment
Moviehole

If you actually force yourself to sit all the way through After Dark, My Sweet, it'll almost certainly leave you feeling punch-drunk.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Apollo Guide

This is the real thing from start to finish.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | Comment
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for After Dark, My Sweet

Dull and extremely drawn out, Jason Patric was the only good thing about this film as a hardened mysterious character - definitely not a recommendation.

April 3, 2007
76Majikat

Super Reviewer

good desert noir with jason patric as a punchy ex-fighter who's not quite as dumb as he looks

July 15, 2009
rubystevens
Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

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