Angel Heart

Angel Heart
Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1987
Founder	Alan Parker (director and screenwriter)
Products	Neo-noir psychological horror film
Parent	Carolco Pictures

Angel Heart is a 1987 neo-noir psychological horror motion picture based on William Hjortsberg's 1978 novel Falling Angel. Directed and scripted by Alan Parker, the film features performances by Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, and Charlotte Rampling. This production represents a collaboration among the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Rourke portrays Harry Angel, a private investigator from New York tasked with locating a missing singer named Johnny Favorite. His investigation leads him to New Orleans and uncovers a trail of violent homicides.

Following the novel’s release, Hjortsberg adapted his work into a screenplay but encountered difficulties obtaining studio support. The project was revitalized in 1985 when producer Elliott Kastner presented the book to Parker, who extensively revised the script. Funding was secured through Carolco Pictures, headed by Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna, with an $18 million budget allocated. Principal photography took place in New York City and New Orleans between March and June 1986.

Before its premiere, the film encountered obstacles with the Motion Picture Association of America regarding explicit sexual scenes. To avoid receiving an X rating, Parker trimmed ten seconds of footage, enabling distributor Tri-Star Pictures to obtain an R rating; subsequently, an unrated version was released for home viewing.

Critical response to Angel Heart was mixed; reviewers commended Rourke and Bonet’s acting, as well as the film’s production design, musical score, and cinematography, yet some criticized Parker’s screenplay. Although it did not meet expectations at the domestic box office—earning $17.2 million against its $18 million budget—the film has since achieved status as a significant cult classic.

Plot

Set in 1955 New York City, Louis Cyphre hires private detective Harry Angel to locate crooner Johnny Favorite, who suffers from neurological damage sustained during World War II, which disrupted a contract with Cyphre involving undisclosed collateral. Cyphre suspects that a private hospital fabricated records concerning Favorite’s intensive psychiatric treatments.

Harry uncovers that physician Albert Fowler falsified these hospital documents. After breaking into Fowler’s residence, Harry forces him through morphine withdrawal; Fowler apparently commits suicide afterward. Cyphre increases his payment offer, urging Harry to continue his pursuit. Harry discovers Favorite had an affluent fiancée named Margaret Krusemark and maintained an affair with Evangeline Proudfoot, who left behind a daughter named Epiphany and a young son of uncertain parentage.

Harry locates Toots Sweet, a former bandmate of Favorite’s, but after coercing information through violence, Toots is savagely murdered. Margaret is later found dead as well; her heart has been removed in a ritualistic manner. Agents working for Ethan Krusemark—Margaret’s influential father—warn Harry to leave the area.

At his hotel, Harry engages intimately with Epiphany and experiences unsettling hallucinations. A confrontation with Krusemark reveals that he and Margaret abducted Favorite from the hospital. Favorite had sold his soul to Satan in exchange for fame but attempted to back out by killing a soldier resembling him to assume that identity. Wounded in combat and suffering from amnesia, he was hospitalized before being taken by Krusemark and Margaret.

Krusemark dies under mysterious circumstances during this revelation. Harry finds dog tags belonging to the soldier—marked "Angel, Harold"—inside a vase and realizes that he himself is Johnny Favorite. Louis Cyphre manifests as Lucifer and claims ownership of Favorite's soul. Repressed memories emerge revealing murders committed by Harry.

Authorities discover Epiphany murdered; evidence links Harry’s gun and dog tags to the crime scene. The glowing eyes of Epiphany’s young son imply satanic involvement. A detective warns Harry that he will face eternal damnation for these killings; Harry responds, "I know. In Hell." The film concludes with Harry descending in an elevator toward Hell as Cyphre asserts dominion over their souls.

Development

Following the release of his 1978 novel Falling Angel, William Hjortsberg began working on adapting it into a screenplay. His friend and production designer Richard Sylbert introduced the manuscript to producer Robert Evans. Paramount Pictures initially acquired the film rights, with Evans producing, John Frankenheimer set to direct, and Hjortsberg writing the script. Frankenheimer was eventually replaced by Dick Richards, and Dustin Hoffman was considered for the lead role. After Paramount’s option lapsed, Hjortsberg collaborated with Robert Redford and drafted two versions of the screenplay but encountered studio resistance due to the absence of a conventional happy ending.

In 1985, producer Elliott Kastner met Alan Parker at Pinewood Studios to explore adapting the novel. Having read the book previously, Parker agreed to pen the screenplay. After a meeting with Hjortsberg in London, Parker relocated to New York City to complete most of the writing. He finished the first draft by September 1985 and presented it in Rome to producers Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna, who committed to funding the project through their independent company, Carolco Pictures. Parker was given full creative authority.

Pre-production started in January 1986 in New York, where Parker gathered his key collaborators, including producer Alan Marshall, cinematographer Michael Seresin, camera operator Michael Roberts, production designer Brian Morris, and editor Gerry Hambling.

Writing

Parker implemented several modifications from the original novel, renaming his screenplay Angel Heart to create some distance from the source material. Whereas Falling Angel takes place entirely in New York City, Parker shifted the latter half of the story to New Orleans to emphasize the novel’s references to Louisiana voodoo and occult themes. Hjortsberg endorsed this change, having also contemplated New Orleans as an alternative setting.

The timeline was moved back to 1955 rather than the novel’s 1959 setting, allowing Parker to evoke a more vintage atmosphere consistent with pre-1960s sensibilities. His goal was to craft Harry Angel as a more empathetic figure—intelligent yet approachable—to gradually engage viewers. Parker assigned Angel a birthdate of February 14 (Valentine’s Day) for both thematic significance and memorability. He aimed for a grounded depiction of Louis Cyphre that contrasted with the novel’s exaggerated portrayal. A significant alteration was made to the ending: instead of Angel being framed for murders as in the book, the film reveals him as the actual perpetrator.

Casting

Initially, Parker sought Robert De Niro for Harry Angel; however, De Niro favored playing Louis Cyphre and only agreed after prolonged negotiations. Jack Nicholson was considered for Angel but declined following discussions with Parker. Mickey Rourke expressed strong enthusiasm for the role and secured it after their meeting in New York.

Lisa Bonet was cast as Epiphany Proudfoot after multiple auditions despite some controversy linked to her role on The Cosby Show. Parker selected her solely based on audition merit without knowledge of her television background. To prepare for her role authentically, Bonet studied voodoo practices and engaged in meditation.

For Margaret Krusemark, Parker struggled to find an actress who could convey both sophistication and eccentricity until Rourke suggested English actress Charlotte Rampling, who was subsequently cast.

In January 1986, Parker organized an extensive casting session at The Kamikaze nightclub in New York City that attracted over 1,400 participants. Elizabeth Whitcraft was chosen to play Connie, a journalist assisting Angel.

Parker also conducted casting calls in New Orleans, inviting local musicians such as Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Deacon John Moore; Moore secured a part. Auditions held in New York included notable performers Bo Diddley and Dizzy Gillespie. Blues guitarist Brownie McGhee was cast during principal photography.

Filming

During the casting phase, director Alan Parker and producer Alan Marshall conducted location scouting in New York City, concentrating on Harlem due to its visually untapped potential. On January 20, 1986, Parker traveled to New Orleans to further develop the script and scout locations, selecting unused structures on Royal Street for a hotel setting and an abandoned residence on Magazine Street to represent Margaret Krusemark’s house. Additionally, he surveyed areas in Staten Island and Coney Island within New York. The screenplay called for a total of 78 distinct locations across both New York and New Orleans.

Principal photography took place from March 31 through June 20, 1986, operating with a budget of $18 million. Filming commenced on Eldridge Street in Manhattan, portraying the neighborhood of Harry Angel. Production designer Brian Morris dedicated two months to authentically recreating the atmosphere of 1950s New York; due to unseasonably warm weather, ice trucks were used to simulate snowfall. Several scenes were captured in Alphabet City, including interiors of bars and Angel’s bedroom.

A pursuit sequence was filmed in Harlem during a street procession, followed by scenes shot under cold conditions at Coney Island where Angel interrogates Izzy near the shoreline. One actress was replaced after declining to reshoot following an injury. The production then returned to Manhattan for the opening credits before moving to a hospice in Harlem for scenes involving Spider Simpson, utilizing elderly residents as background actors. On April 17, filming shifted to Staten Island for Dr. Fowler’s scenes.

Hoboken, New Jersey, served as a stand-in for a train station in New Orleans. The crew briefly went back to Harlem for sequences set in a mission and at Lanza’s Italian restaurant located on the Lower East Side. By May 3, the production fully transitioned to New Orleans.

In Thibodaux, Louisiana, Parker discovered a preserved plantation workers’ village which was adapted into a graveyard set by combining existing buildings with set dressing. A nearby field was transformed into a racetrack where Angel encounters Ethan Krusemark. A complicated chase scene featured horses, dogs, gunfire effects, chickens, and stunt performers.

On Magazine Street, Morris recreated the look of 1950s New Orleans by dressing storefronts in monochrome shades. Jackson Square was the backdrop for one of the final sequences where Angel escapes from Margaret’s residence amid a voodoo ceremony choreographed by Louis Falco, inspired by genuine Haitian rituals.

The intimate scene between Rourke and Bonet was filmed over four hours on Royal Street with a minimal crew present to maintain actor comfort; music was played during filming. Flashback scenes set in 1943 Times Square were shot at an unused bus depot that doubled as Ethan Krusemark’s gumbo hut. Additional filming took place at St. Alphonsus Church and returned to Royal Street for the final confrontation and closing scenes.

Editing and censorship

Following the completion of filming in June 1986, Parker dedicated four months to editing approximately 400,000 feet of footage comprising around 1,100 shots. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) initially assigned the film an X rating—a classification often associated with pornographic content. The rating board, composed of industry executives and theater proprietors, objected specifically to several seconds depicting Rourke’s buttocks during a sexual scene with thrusting movements. Parker appealed this decision but failed to obtain the required two-thirds majority vote needed to reduce the rating to an R.

Tri-Star Pictures declined to distribute the film under an X rating due to anticipated limitations on theater availability and advertising restrictions; Steve Randall, Tri-Star's Executive Vice President of marketing, confirmed that releasing X-rated films was against studio policy.

With only weeks remaining before release, the studio urgently pursued an R rating; however, Parker was reluctant to modify his work. A second appeal resulted in an 8-to-6 vote maintaining the X classification. Subsequently, Parker excised ten seconds from the sexual content—describing the scene as complex with rapid editing cuts—and removed roughly fourteen feet of film footage. On February 24, 1987, the film was granted an R rating. Parker later described this process as "a wasteful, pointless and expensive exercise."

Music

The film's score was crafted and composed by Trevor Jones, featuring saxophone solos performed by British jazz artist Courtney Pine. Parker chose Jones for the project after being impressed by his work on the 1986 movie Runaway Train. Upon watching an early cut, Jones described the experience as powerful and sought to create a "unique" musical expression that aligned with the movie’s themes.

Jones concentrated on the notion of evil, intending to instill fear through "everyday ordinary music" that connected Harry Angel’s reality with elements of dark magic. He produced the soundtrack electronically utilizing a Synclavier. Director Parker selected Glen Gray’s 1937 track "Girl of My Dreams" as a recurring theme, attributed to the off-screen character Johnny Favorite, which Jones wove into the score.

The soundtrack also features blues and R&B selections, including Bessie Smith’s "Honeyman Blues," LaVern Baker’s "Soul on Fire," and Brownie McGhee alongside vocalist Lilian Boutté. Jones remarked that merging electronic Synclavier sounds with live jazz performances effectively supported the film’s atmosphere.

During post-production, Jones completed the music mixing at Angel Recording Studios in North London, with final mixing sessions held at Warner Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles. Parker highlighted the benefits of contemporary multi-track recording technology over conventional orchestral scoring methods. The soundtrack album was issued by Antilles Records in partnership with Island Records.

Release

In North America, Angel Heart was released widely on March 6, 1987, under the distribution of TriStar Pictures. The film opened at number four at the weekend box office, generating $3.7 million from 815 theaters, averaging $4,526 per location. Its total domestic earnings reached $17.2 million against an $18 million production budget.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, Angel Heart holds an approval rating of 82% based on 34 critiques, with an average rating of 7.4 out of 10. The critical consensus describes it as a film that "draws audiences into its unsettling, brutal mystery with authentic noir style and a deeply hypnotic atmosphere." William Hjortsberg, author of Falling Angel, commended the adaptation and Robert De Niro’s casting as Cyphre. In contrast, Bill Cosby criticized it as "a film created by white America casting a black actress in voodoo-related roles combined with sexual content."

Critical opinions were divided. The Hollywood Reporter praised Rourke’s acting, the musical score, cinematography, and production design but found Parker’s screenplay overly complex and heavy on exposition. Vincent Canby of The New York Times appreciated the visual elements but viewed Rourke’s intense performance as ultimately ineffective.

Rita Kempley from The Washington Post described the movie as excessively stylized with a dominating soundtrack. Pauline Kael of The New Yorker criticized Parker’s direction and De Niro’s cameo for diminishing the film's overall impact.

On Siskel & Ebert & the Movies, Gene Siskel gave a negative review citing pacing problems and a disappointing controversial sex scene, whereas Roger Ebert offered a positive assessment, calling it a lively exercise in style.

Ian Nathan from Empire described it as "a devilishly enjoyable experience," highlighting strong performances by Rourke and De Niro. Almar Haflidason of the BBC praised Rourke’s captivating lead role supported by a competent cast.

Richard Luck writing for Film4 concluded that although the source material warranted a superior adaptation, Rourke’s portrayal elevates Angel Heart within the necromancy film genre.

Cultural impact

Director Christopher Nolan acknowledged the film as a significant inspiration for his 2000 release Memento, especially regarding its fragmented, nonlinear storytelling approach reminiscent of Alan Parker's films such as Angel Heart and The Wall.

The movie also influenced the narrative and mood of the video game Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers.

In 2010, Wired placed it at number 22 on their ranking of "The 25 Best Horror Films of All Time," while in 2012, Mark Hughes from Forbes ranked it ninth among the "Top 10 Best Cult Classic Horror Movies of All Time."

Ryan Lambie of Den of Geek listed it sixth in his compilation of "The Top 20 Underappreciated Films of 1987," commending its dark noir thriller elements along with compelling performances and direction.

Film analyst Tim Dirks from Filmsite included the movie in his "Greatest Film Plot Twists" list, emphasizing key revelations like Harry Angel’s true identity as Johnny Favorite and Louis Cyphre representing Lucifer.

Tim Butters, writing for Screen Rant, identified Robert De Niro’s portrayal as one of the "10 Best Movie Depictions of the Devil."

Accolades

Following its release, Angel Heart received multiple awards and nominations. At the 10th Jupiter Awards, Mickey Rourke was honored with Best International Actor for his performances in both Angel Heart and A Prayer for the Dying (1987).

Lisa Bonet earned the Young Artist Award for Best Young Female Superstar in Motion Pictures at the 9th Youth in Film Awards.

The film secured three nominations during the 15th Saturn Awards, though it did not achieve a win.

Awards and nominations
Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
15th Saturn Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Robert De Niro	Template:Nom
	Best Supporting Actress	Lisa Bonet	Template:Nom
	Best Writing	Alan Parker	Template:Nom
10th Jupiter Awards	Best International Actor	Mickey Rourke	Template:Won
9th Youth in Film Awards	Best Young Female Superstar in Motion Pictures	Lisa Bonet	Template:Won

Home video

On September 24, 1987, Angel Heart was made available on VHS by International Video Entertainment (IVE), offering both the R-rated theatrical version and an uncut edition that restored previously excised scenes. Ralph King, senior vice president at IVE, highlighted their commitment to presenting the film as originally envisioned by director Alan Parker.

The movie's first appearance on DVD came on June 23, 1998, via Artisan Entertainment, featuring extras such as a theatrical trailer, production notes, a making-of documentary, and cast and crew details. Despite these additions, the DVD was criticized for subpar video quality and limited bonus content. Artisan also released a LaserDisc version on August 18, 1998.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment reissued Angel Heart on May 18, 2004, as a "Special Edition" DVD that included commentary tracks from the director and actors, an interview with Mickey Rourke, and the original theatrical trailer. Subsequently, Lionsgate launched a Blu-ray edition on November 24, 2009, delivering high-definition (1080p) video alongside all previously included Special Edition materials.

Most recently, on July 12, 2022, Lionsgate introduced a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release in the United States, enhancing visual fidelity to meet contemporary home viewing standards.

TV version

The television edit omits the more explicit sexual content. Of particular note is the reworked sequence featuring Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet, which incorporates extra footage not present in the MPAA-rated cuts. This additional material includes flashbacks to a drunken party held at the barracks where Johnny Favorite was stationed prior to the explosions, concluding with a brief image of Epiphany Proudfoot’s charred body amidst the debris.

Deleted scenes

A graphic scene depicting Herman Winesap’s decapitation by a rotary fan was filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut.
Additional footage portrayed Harry inscribing "TELOCA"—an Enochian term meaning "Damned"—on the wall using the victim’s blood following his murder of Toots Sweet.
Originally, it was revealed that Connie, Harry’s girlfriend and a secretary at The New York Times, had been killed and her body burned shortly after their encounter.

Remake

In 2008, producers Michael De Luca, Alison Rosenzweig, and Michael Gaeta announced plans to develop a remake of Angel Heart through Michael De Luca Productions. They secured rights to both the original film and the novel Falling Angel. De Luca highlighted the story’s unique combination of genres and its broad thematic resonance paired with commercial viability. Nevertheless, aside from a brief update in 2009, no further progress regarding the remake has been reported.

External links

Angel Heart at AlanParker.com