The Black Dahlia
The Black Dahlia Image
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Metascore
49 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critics What's this?

User Score
3.0 out of 10

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 125 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson
  • Summary: The Black Dahlia weaves a fictionalized tale of obsession, love, corruption, greed and depravity around the brutal murder of a fledgling Hollywood starlet that shocked and fascinated the nation in 1947 and remains unsolved today. (Universal Pictures)
  • Director: Brian De Palma
  • Genre(s): Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Crime
  • Rating: R
  • Runtime: 121 min
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 35
  3. Negative: 5 out of 35
  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    91
    Hartnett and co-star Scarlett Johansson--that most fatale of current filmic femmes--are naturals for this kind of noir-hued material, but the pairing of Ellroy and De Palma proves a marriage made in hardboiled heaven.
  2. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    75
    There are some virtuoso moments (the discovery of the mutilated corpse is extremely well done and blessedly ungraphic), but overall the result is much less than prime De Palma.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Adam Smith
    60
    Gorgeously realised, gripping and doused in De Palma’s familiar technical wizardry, this is only let down by the director’s equally familiar uninterest in the humanity of his characters.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    38
    Doesn't provoke bittersweet inquiries regarding one poor actress' grisly fate. Nor does it stir up much provocation on the matter of why, as a popular audience, we're still taken with this lurid symbol of sex and dread and desire. Rather, the movie raises a much simpler question: Huh?

See all 35 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 75
  3. Negative: 58 out of 75
  1. ES
    10
    A brave bit of storytelling, brazenly un-PC, my favorite of the recent rash of pulp movies. Also lovely to see real cinematic ability on display here -- even Scorsese's latest movie is obviously a product of the MTV generation, while this movie could have been made during the Golden Age of cinema. Standouts are Aaron Eckhart, whose '40s throwback performance layered with '90s indie naturalism stole the show, and William Finley's small but very important role was a pleasant surprise. It was a real pleasure to see the Phantom of the Paradise himself onscreen again. I'll agree with most that Hartnett and Johansson very nearly ruined this film's chances, but the movie is too solid overall to be discounted. See it in a theater for the full effect!… Expand
  2. RogerSmith97
    8
    As Of Now (4/24/11) I Have No Clue Why The User Score Is So Low.. This Is A Good Movie Overall. Yes I Can Say Some Spots Arent The Best.. But It Is A A+ Effort... Rose McGowan Does A Great Job.. The Acting Was OK... I Loved The Writing/Plot.. Overall 8!… Expand
  3. BillyS.
    7
    One thing is certain from the very beginning of The Black Dahlia- you're watching a Brian DePalma film. It's all here, the long sweeping tracking shots, the artsy angles, the buiding cresendo of the score, and a very intriguing story that slowly is revealed after about 25 unnessasary tangents and detours. The acting is pretty much standard considering everybody seems to have split personalities and who you see isn't really who you see. There is just to much to take in and the film goes all over the place getting there, but getting there with Vilmos Zsigmond's cinematography and Dante Ferretti's production design make all those little sidetracks all the more enjoyable and worth the price of a ticket.… Expand
  4. GrahamM.
    4
    The only good thing to say about this film is its certain type of atmosphere and that it is not as bad as a striaght to video movie. Worth a rental if one is interested.… Expand

See all 75 User Reviews

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