On B List of Movie Reviews

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Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Rate: 10
Viewed: 10/13

10/13: Bad Day at Black Rock is a simple and effective picture that merits a place in my Best Films list.

Right from the get-go, the ominous feel of what's about to come is established, and the plot thickens every second throughout.

Spencer Tracy is great as the one-armed stranger who shows up in a town that looks almost dead. Robert Ryan and his gang of villains, which includes Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin, start to be threatened by his presence.

Between these two opposites, something is bound to happen sooner or later. It's by far the most interesting aspect of the film. There's a neo-noir quality going on due to a femme fatale, sinister villains, town's desolateness, and suspenseful buildup toward the climax.

All in all, Bad Day at Black Rock is among the greatest movies made.

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