John Carpenter has a fondness for the noir crime thrillers of yesteryear. When the Big Trouble in Little China director sat down with Criterion to discuss his top ten picks from their extensive library, many of his selections fit within that niche. One pick that stood out to us is the black-and-white chiller Kiss Me Deadly.
Carpenter told Criterion, “I love that opening scene with Cloris Leachman running down the highway. And Ralph Meeker’s performance. Just all of it! This film was really daring for its day, with its combination of a radioactive atomic drama with a crime thriller.”
Where can I stream Kiss Me Deadly?
If you’re like me, you’re probably keen to hunt down the film to see why Carpenter connects with it and how the picture might have influenced his output. Well, you’re in luck. Kiss Me Deadly is currently streaming (for free with ads) on Sling TV.
The picture is based on the crime novel of the same name by author Mickey Spillane. Robert Aldrich sat at the helm, directing from a screenplay by A.I. Bezzerides.
The film stars Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, and Cloris Leachman.
The picture is noteworthy for featuring a number of historic Los Angeles-area locations, including Bunker Hill. Most of the locations featured have been redeveloped in the years since the picture bowed in theaters.
Critics praised the film for its depictions of the uncertainty people felt during the Cold War. The picture holds an impressive 98% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And the Popcornmeter (audience score) isn’t far behind at 84%.
The setup for this John Carpenter-approved noir thriller goes like this:
One evening, private detective Mike Hammer (Meeker) picks up a strange woman, Christina (Leachman), who’s standing on the highway wearing only a trench coat. They’re stopped further on by strangers who knock out Mike and murder Christina. Although warned not to investigate by the police, Mike and his girlfriend and assistant, Velda (Maxine Cooper), become ensnared in a dark plot involving scientist Dr. Soberin (Dekker) and Christina’s terrified roommate, Lily (Gaby Rodgers).
That’s all we have for you, for now, dear reader. Stay tuned to Dread Central for more exciting recommendations from your favorite Masters of Horror as we uncover them. If you would like to chat more about John Carpenter’s filmography and his various cinematic influences, you can find me on Threads @FunWithHorror.
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