An imbalanced
ex-boxer (Jason Patric) stumbles into a sleepy desert bar, is accosted by the
bartender for no apparent reason, and comforted and then seduced by a beautiful
and troubled patron (Rachel Ward). After bringing him home, she introduces him to an older companion (Bruce Dern) of undisclosed relation before involving
the drifter in a harebrained kidnapping plan. From a novel by Jim
Thompson, James Foley’s After Dark, My
Sweet is a steamy, seedy, cold, and intelligent modern noir with fine
performances from Ward and Dern and really a virtuoso one from Patric. Jarring,
with a knockout ending.
*** ½ out of ****
