Kiss Me Deadly

Director: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, Wesley Addy, and Marion Carr
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller 1955
Running time: 106 mins. 
Rating:★★★★

The good manners of the 1950's are blown to smithereens. A snarling private dick, Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker), whose decisions one dark, lonely night to pick up a hitchhiking woman sends him down some terrifying byways.

Two years after The Wild One, Laslo Benedek, the progressive movement of rebellion, sex, and rock n' roll was the big taboo, this film turns up the heat on the film noir genre. The gender roles are blurred, tension, provocative, and mysterious. The dialogue is unrealistic Hollywood writing, but is still magnificant. The high contrasts, composition, and soundtrack flawlessly helps navigate the mystery of how the character, Mike Hammer got pulled into this mess. Ralph Meeker portrays Mike Hammer as the ultimate "superhero": smooth, cunning, handsome, and ladies' man. However, racial and ethnic stereotypes, in it supporting-character actors, making the film, a commentary of the 1950's.

The film uses some Alfred Hitchcock signature details like the main two characters, the man having dark hair and the woman being a blonde. Also the way the mystery unravels is also very similar to Hitchcock. The mystery and intrigue revolves around this haunting "great. whatisit," which also brings a sci-fi element to the film. It is suggested that the "whatisit" was a representation on the Cold War fear, atomic weapon paranoia about the atomic bomb that permeated American culture. Nevertheless, wrapped up the amazing 1950's special effects in the end of the film!