X
  • 1990
  • R
  • Avenue Pictures
  • 1 h 54 m
  • 1990
  • R
  • Avenue Pictures
  • 1 h 54 m

Summary An ex-boxer is drifting around after escaping from the mental hospital. He meets a widow who convinces him to help fix up the neglected estate her ex-husband left. Her Uncle talks them both into helping kidnap a rich boy for ransom money, and the ex-fighter must make decisions about his loyalties and what is right.

Directed By: James Foley

Written By: Jim Thompson, Robert Redlin, James Foley

  • 1990
  • R
  • Avenue Pictures
  • 1 h 54 m
  • 1990
  • R
  • Avenue Pictures
  • 1 h 54 m

After Dark, My Sweet

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 23 Critic Reviews
78
User Score Available after 4 ratings
tbd
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary An ex-boxer is drifting around after escaping from the mental hospital. He meets a widow who convinces him to help fix up the neglected estate her ex-husband left. Her Uncle talks them both into helping kidnap a rich boy for ransom money, and the ex-fighter must make decisions about his loyalties and what is right.

Directed By: James Foley

Written By: Jim Thompson, Robert Redlin, James Foley

Where to Watch

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 23 Critic Reviews
78
83% Positive
19 Reviews
13% Mixed
3 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 23 Critic Reviews
78
83% Positive
19 Reviews
13% Mixed
3 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
This is a miniature classic, a pulp tragedy. [29 Sep 1990]
By Jay Scott FULL REVIEW
100
One of the purest and most uncompromising of modern films noir. It captures above all the lonely, exhausted lives of its characters.
By Roger Ebert FULL REVIEW
88
Foley's direction approaches perfection, almost always avoiding thriller cliches and showy distractions in favor of a crisp yet imaginative visual style. After Dark, My Sweet delivers the goods as a crime movie, but it is a fascinating character study as well. [14 Sep 1990, p.3F]
FULL REVIEW
80
As the drama circles their inaction, this trio of excellent performances fills the screen with a form of spiritual exhaustion, and the film slumps into noir’s typically happy-clappy comeuppance of failure, betrayal and ruin. But the mood has caught on, and the film, stamped with a stunning visual emptiness, haunts the memory for long after its sour close.
By Ian Nathan FULL REVIEW
75
Director James Foley and cinematographer Mark Plummer deftly conjure the sense of stifling containment that drives these characters to drink or sin, but Robert Redlin's screenplay fails to fully animate their personalities. Patric gives a tremendous, smoldering performance, but Ward fails to convey the mysterious radiance of a convincing femme fatale. Dern rounds out the unappetizing triangle with an unpleasant performance, proving himself a worthy contender in the Dennis Hopper/Harry Dean Stanton creepstakes.
FULL REVIEW
63
The movie doesn't really earn its big, overwrought finale, and after it's over it appears quite full of holes. But it's a handsome curiosity. [31 Aug 1990, p.G5]
By Bill Cosford FULL REVIEW
38
Nothing works in this over-elaborate let's-kidnap-a-kid melodrama. [24 Aug 1990]
By Mike Clark FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company Avenue Pictures
Release Date Aug 24, 1990
Duration 1 h 54 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline Seduced beyond the limits of deception. Betrayed beyond the limits of desire.
View All Details

Awards

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
• 1 Nomination

Related Movies

The Godfather

100
Universal Acclaim

Touch of Evil

99
Universal Acclaim

Pépé le Moko (re-release)

98
Universal Acclaim

Rashomon

98
Universal Acclaim

The Night of the Hunter

97
Universal Acclaim

Rififi (re-release)

97
Universal Acclaim

The Maltese Falcon

97
Universal Acclaim

12 Angry Men

97
Universal Acclaim

Mean Streets

96
Universal Acclaim

Pulp Fiction

95
Universal Acclaim

Collective

95
Universal Acclaim

Double Indemnity

95
Universal Acclaim

Taxi Driver

94
Universal Acclaim

The Irishman

94
Universal Acclaim

Carlos

94
Universal Acclaim

The French Connection

94
Universal Acclaim

Elevator to the Gallows

94
Universal Acclaim

Shoplifters

93
Universal Acclaim

The 39 Steps

93
Universal Acclaim

Uncut Gems

93
Universal Acclaim

Band of Outsiders

93
Universal Acclaim

Days of Being Wild (re-release)

93
Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

  • movie
April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie