Fallen Review (1998)

7.5 / 10. Time is on my side. My favourite Denzel film, a well executed supernatural thriller tale *MINOR SPOILERS*

Fallen is a bleak supernatural thriller film directed by Gregory Hoblit, from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan.

Philadelphia Police Detective, John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), attends serial killer Edgar Reese’s execution, whom he captured. Reese appears unfazed by his impending death, and he grabs Hobbes' hand in his cell and spouts seemingly nonsensical words to him. In his final gas chamber moments, Reese sings "Time is on My Side" by The Rolling Stones.

Following Reese’s death, Hobbes and his partner Jonesy investigate a new series of murders, appearing to be the work of a copycat killer of Reese, and Hobbes eerily hears people around him singing the same The Rolling Stones song Reese sang.

Hobbes meets theology professor Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz), who describes a similar case her detective father worked on, implying something supernatural may be involved in Reese’s previous exploits and the new killings…

The film is a well-executed, intelligent supernatural / serial killer mystery with a dark edge and no need for extravagant special effects to tell the tale. Fallen is my favourite Denzel film, he is always fantastic, and here he has great support from Donald Sutherland as Lieutenant Stanton, John Goodman as Jonesy and James Gandolfini as Lou, plus a great cameo from Elias Koteas as Reese.

There are a few red herrings thrown into the pond, and the exposition is interesting, delving into the demonic world leaves you wanting to know more. The subtle changes in characters once ‘touched’ are simple yet effective and the colour scheme changes and blurry shots when we view the world from the demon’s eyes are well used.

Great use of two The Rolling Stones tracks (Sympathy for the Devil and Time Is on My Side - the latter will stick in your head for days), and a memorable, unexpected ending.

"I want to tell you about the time I almost died."