After Dark, My Sweet (1990)

82% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(1,455 ratings)

Adapted from a novel by pulp writer Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet evokes memories of the film noirs of yore. Jason Patric plays Collie, a short-fused ex-boxer who gets mixed up with alcoholic widow Fay (Rachel Ward) and burned-out former lawman Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern). These two lowlifes involve… More Adapted from a novel by pulp writer Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet evokes memories of the film noirs of yore. Jason Patric plays Collie, a short-fused ex-boxer who gets mixed up with alcoholic widow Fay (Rachel Ward) and burned-out former lawman Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern). These two lowlifes involve Collie in a kidnapping scheme. At first willing to go along with the plan, Collie tires of Fay's drunken mood swings and seeks out new companionship. Doctor George Dickinson proves all too eager to be friends with Collie -- more than friends, in fact. Driven back into Fay's arms, Collie agrees to aid in the kidnapping. But when the victim turns out to be diabetic, things go from bad to worse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: James Foley
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Aug 24, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Mar 26, 2002
Studio: Live Home Video

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
A brisk, entertaining contemporary melodrama.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The film is a hot-wired crime thriller that captures [Jim] Thompson's flair for hard action, malicious wit and fevered eroticism.
Joe Brown, Washington Post
Foley has brought the novel subtly up to date, and does a good job of maintaining Thompson's artful ambiguity.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
If anything, though, Foley makes Thompson's killing universe too inviting, too sunny and comfortable. He's missed the essence of Thompson, but all in all, there are worse ways of failing.
Dan Callahan, Reverse Shot
Patric plays one of those sweet and totally limited ex-boxers that only seem to exist in the movies and in pulp novels.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
After the compromised result of the noirish At Close Range, Foley shows imporovement in giving Jim Thompson's 1955 tale the right tone and visuals, though he should have cast the femme fatale with a better actress than Rachel Ward.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Tour-de-force performances all-round
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
If you actually force yourself to sit all the way through After Dark, My Sweet, it'll almost certainly leave you feeling punch-drunk.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
This is the real thing from start to finish.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

Dull and extremely drawn out, Jason Patric was the only good thing about this film as a hardened mysterious character - definitely not a recommendation.
Stella D

good desert noir with jason patric as a punchy ex-fighter who's not quite as dumb as he looks
Anthony V

Nice bit of modern Film Noir.