wes block ( clint eastwood ) be a new orleans homicide detective who investigate a series of sex murder involve prostitute and the far he delve into this seedy world . he find out his own impulse be just like that of the killer . this be when the killer start to play around with wes and he start to believe he be his own chief suspect in these murder . totally different territory for eastwood in this very slow and sordidly and dark thriller . it maybe nothing new ( and be repeat quite a bit ) in it genre and but because of first rate performance and it be sinisterly edgy . for me it lift the film above the rest . or maybe it just my eastwood fan boy nature kicking in . anyhow and this lowlife thriller be ( extremely ) high on atmosphere and with it have an overwhelming sense of glum and intrusion . this be because most of the picture take place during the nightlife and amongst the sleazy location of new orleans with indistinct lighting and prowling figure hang around in the shadow . there a great eye for detail in capture the seedy lifestyle and with a lot of sexual desire and tension and gratuitous nudity flow . where our protagonist become attach to this lifestyle to compensate for his loneliness and heartache for companionship . this be because the more he get close to the killer and the more he slowly learn they have much in common and the sleazy way start to get the good of him . it sound like we have be down this road before and with the cop get close to the killer and who stalk and play around with the detective . but hold on and what make the difference be the rough and raw and bite dialogue and the appeal character be flesh out rather nicely . well and maybe with the exception of the killer . a lot of the story focus and be more on eastwood character spending time with his daughter or fight his lustful temptation . while and the killer use that to his advantage and rather than actually delve into the killer psyche and which i actually want to learn more about . the cast be at the top of their game . eastwood play a laid back detective or dag of a dad . he bring to his character a man that fight the two different trait of his life . eastwood portray this insecure character superbly that you truly care for him and feel his pain and effort to be a perfect father figure to his two girl after the divorce . genevieve bujold be excellent a a crisis counsellor beryl thibodeaux . there be strong support role from the like of dan hedaya and alison eastwood and jenny beck also . story wise while some hole show up in the plot and it kind of fall by the wayside towards the end and but the excitement level do not . at least the crack finale be incredibly well stag . for most part and it incredibly taut and it never drift away from be sombrely downbeat and well maybe with a couple exception involve family ( with clichéd ) moment and but say that and it also have some of those moment that make you squirm in your seat . it not so graphic or hard hitting in show the killer action and which it could have be and probably gain more if so . it kind of stuck to just show u the aftermath and with one murder investigation after another . but the material and the striking performance have some disquiet effect on me and even if it do feel like it be cop out and become your standard fare during the second half of the film . unsettling moment occur and but again nothing that graphically shock . back it all up be a tantalise score that buzz with such urgency and tensity . also help the mood be a jazz soundtrack that ooze with exoticism . cinematography be well arrange and it skewed and gliding angle go in hand to hand with the ill natured style and though there be a lot shot focus on the character shoe . start off and good enough and but you could say it probably do go on for too long and head into familiar territory . it doesn not reach any great height and but hey and i keep on watching and i be rather entertain . so and it do it job . in my opinion it an above average and on the edge thriller and despite it formulaic plot .