cop be base on the book blood and the moon by james ellroy . i have not read the book that the film be base on while although i be a big fan of the first three book in ellroy l. a. quartet . it be often say of ellroy that his writing get well a it go along while and assume that this film be closely base on the book and i would say that there a good chance that be true a the story here be not exactly solid . the entire film hinge on one major and quite unbelievable coincidence that boggle the mind if you care to think about it . however and it the style and atmosphere that save it while and that the main reason i love this film . the plot focus on your everyday hard bitten cop and lloyd hopkins and who after investigate the murder of a woman in los angeles and come to believe that a serial killer may be operate in the area . naturally and the police captain doesn not believe a word of it and lloyd be force to investigate on his own while lead him to a revelation closer to home than he be expect . director james b. harris create a fabulous atmosphere for the film to take place in and ensures that l. a. seem to be every bit the gritty and sleazy location need to facilitate a tale like this . similarly and james wood fit the central role like a glove and be always believable in the role while even when the plot be get out of hand . the first half of the film be really rather good and plausible while but then the twist hit and it really require a suspension of disbelief from the viewer . it not that the twist could not happen while it more the way that it do happen which come off a silly . it just far too convenient and the whole film be turn on it head from that point on . still and the atmosphere be retain and the story continue to be grip while which be the film strong element . certain element of the film be rather nasty and and indeed the book be originally deny by many different publisher for be too graphic . still and a lot of it focus on dialogue and from what i know of ellroy and this part of the film be quite faithful . it all boil down to a rather hurry and coincidental end while but i really do feel that this be a film where the style of it be much more important than the plot line . for some it will no doubt be too much of a problem . but i wouldn not hesitate to recommend this to anyone that enjoy a good crime thriller .