Act of Violence (Blu-ray)

The only problem with writing a review of this movie is I can't hide it behind Spoiler Alerts! So without further ado, I can say that not only do Robert Ryan and Van Heflin deliver terrific performances but so does a 20-year-old Janet Leigh (in only her fifth film). Zinnemann does a fine job of setting up the tension that hangs overhead throughout the film whilst introducing us to a hero who turns out to have Frankenstein-sized feet of clay. This is a story that was made to be told in black-and-white; it's filled with people whose whole existence is in the shadows.

This underrated film noir packs quite a wallop and has an insightful look at the psychological damage inflicted on soldiers, specifically returning vets of the “good war” World War II. Robert Ryan, who is always great, is a force of unstoppable vengeance. He’s relentless in his pursuit of justice against Van Heflin, the officer he believes acted wrongly in the line of duty during battle. But is he right? Ryan is like a flinty, fleshly, hateful Terminator gone awry. And this noir borders on horror. Terrific stuff and deserving of a place among the great crime dramas of all time.