X
  • 1958
  • Approved
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 35 m
  • 1958
  • Approved
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 35 m

Summary This film noir portrait of corruption and morally-compromised obsessions stars Welles as Hank Quinlan, a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Charlton Heston plays an honorable Mexican narcotics investigator who clashes with the bigoted Quinlan after probing into his dark past. A memorabl...

Directed By: Orson Welles

Written By: Whit Masterson, Franklin Coen, Paul Monash, Orson Welles

  • 1958
  • Approved
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 35 m
  • 1958
  • Approved
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 35 m

Touch of Evil

Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 24 Critic Reviews
must-see
99
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 124 User Ratings
8.2
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary This film noir portrait of corruption and morally-compromised obsessions stars Welles as Hank Quinlan, a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Charlton Heston plays an honorable Mexican narcotics investigator who clashes with the bigoted Quinlan after probing into his dark past. A memorabl...

Directed By: Orson Welles

Written By: Whit Masterson, Franklin Coen, Paul Monash, Orson Welles

Where to Watch

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 24 Critic Reviews
99
96% Positive
23 Reviews
4% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 24 Critic Reviews
99
96% Positive
23 Reviews
4% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Amazingly, Welles gets away with it. Citizen Kane may be the more weighty, rounded work, but Touch of Evil is a heap more fun.
By Xan Brooks FULL REVIEW
100
An all-star A-movie with large themes, brilliant technique, and a dark and daring performance by its star-writer-director that remains one of his two or three best. [Director's Cut; 18 Sept 1998, p.H1]
By John Hartl FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 124 User Ratings
8.2
86% Positive
107 Ratings
7% Mixed
9 Ratings
6% Negative
8 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 124 User Ratings
8.2
86% Positive
107 Ratings
7% Mixed
9 Ratings
6% Negative
8 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
Deanomite
Jan 31, 2020
Interesting title considering the studio recut it in a fight with Welles that ended in them not wanting to submit it for awards and him never working for a studio again. Also interesting is that Welles' character mirrored his life at that time. I saw the 1998 version, reconstructed from Welles' notes. It is fantastic, his 2nd best movie, just have to get past Charlton Heston as a Mexican.
Report
10
TMProofreader3
Aug 23, 2019
The best, GREATEST thrilling gangster movie ever portrayed! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Orson Welles as Capt. Hank Quinlan! Plus the best movie quote ever spoken: "He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?" And the best movie score ever composed!
Report
100
Still seems close to the pinnacle of film noir. [Director's Cut]
By Michael Wilmington FULL REVIEW
100
Welles manages to wring engaging performances out of all of his actors, but what's most impressive about the film is the way in which the director makes use of every corner of the screen with deliberate precision.
FULL REVIEW
100
Astonishing cinematography and brilliantly played, this certainly one of the most influential crime movies in history.
By Angie Errigo FULL REVIEW
90
What it really has to do with is love of the film medium, and if Welles can't resist the candy of shadows and angels and baroque decor, he turns it into stronger fare than most directors' solemn meat and potatoes. It's terrific entertainment.
By Pauline Kael FULL REVIEW
60
Touch of Evil smacks of brilliance but ultimately flounders in it.
FULL REVIEW
See All 24 Critic Reviews
10
alejandro970
Nov 25, 2018
An essential from Orson Welles. Police thriller with the well-known ingredents that makes works clockwise: crooked policemen, femmes fatale, an overwhemed atmosphere and intrigue.
Report
6
gracjanski
May 17, 2020
Not my favourite Film Noir. Quinlan is so disgusting. And somehow I find this movie was so cheap, many scenes are in the studio with artificial light. There are some very mean scenes, but somehow I just wanted to see the end.
Report
See All 4 User Reviews

Details

 View All
Production Company Universal International Pictures (UI)
Release Date Feb 1, 1958
Duration 1 h 35 m
Rating Approved
Genres
Tagline The Overwhelming Drama of a Strange Vengeance
View All Details

Awards

New York Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Society of Camera Operators
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
National Film Preservation Board, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

Related Movies

The Godfather

100
Universal Acclaim

Touch of Evil

99
Universal Acclaim

Pépé le Moko (re-release)

98
Universal Acclaim

Rashomon

98
Universal Acclaim

The Night of the Hunter

97
Universal Acclaim

Rififi (re-release)

97
Universal Acclaim

The Maltese Falcon

97
Universal Acclaim

12 Angry Men

97
Universal Acclaim

Mean Streets

96
Universal Acclaim

Pulp Fiction

95
Universal Acclaim

Collective

95
Universal Acclaim

Double Indemnity

95
Universal Acclaim

Taxi Driver

94
Universal Acclaim

The Irishman

94
Universal Acclaim

Carlos

94
Universal Acclaim

The French Connection

94
Universal Acclaim

Elevator to the Gallows

94
Universal Acclaim

Shoplifters

93
Universal Acclaim

The 39 Steps

93
Universal Acclaim

Uncut Gems

93
Universal Acclaim

Band of Outsiders

93
Universal Acclaim

Days of Being Wild (re-release)

93
Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

  • movie
April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie