This Psychological Thriller Put Denzel Washington Up Against Supernatural Threats

The big picture

• Denzel Washington's
  fallen
  is an underrated supernatural thriller that stands out in his filmography.
• The film's hidden imagery and horror elements make it a refreshing addition to Washington's body of work.
• fallen
  is often compared to
  Se7en
  but it has its own bold and ambitious narrative.

Few actors have such an impressive resume Denzel Washington. He has become a household name through a mix of iconic films that are critically acclaimed, commercially successful or culturally resonant. From Malcolm X to its multiple Tony Scott collaborations, Washington proves time and time again to be one of the most capable leaders. With charm and magnetic gravity, Washington is an actor who commands respect and elevates every project he touches.

Outside of his usual fare, Washington's filmography hasn't included many genre films. But in 1998, Washington starred in an underrated thriller that takes some surprising twists on the supernatural: fallen. The film came out amid a wave of gritty crime mysteries, but stands out for leaning more towards horror than any of its contemporaries. Although it wasn't incredibly well received at the time, fallen has earned a reputation as a cult film at present, and should be seen as a standout in Washington's filmography due to its overt horror elements.

'Fallen' remains Denzel Washington's only horror film

fallen follows Washington as a Philadelphia detective, John Hobbes, who is hot on the heels of a mysterious serial killer with a personal connection to his past. Hobbes had put away another murderer, Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas), with the same methodology. However, a series of copycat crimes begin to emerge after Reese's execution. The mystery of who continues Reese's killing spree takes a cryptic turn when Hobbes discovers signs that point to demonic possession.

fallenOccult imagery, demonic undertones, and horror stylings are distinctive to Washington's filmography because he has not starred in any other proper horror films. A-list stars don't usually lend their talents to horror films, in an industry where critics and awards bodies tend to consider the genre schlocky unless the film is serious enough to be considered art, in which case they might insist on calling it a thriller. But fallen it's not that kind of movie. fallen it's a bit cheeky but in an exciting and refreshing way. It's a surprising standout in Washington's work because of the open and unbending genre elements, and its placement in the film elevates it quite a bit.

The unfortunate fact that fallen It was seen as a disappointment at the time that might have prevented Washington from wanting to return to the horror genre in later years. fallen failed to recoup its budget during its theatrical release, and was largely written off by critics, but the film has grown to be fondly remembered. fallen could easily become a cult classic when discovered by new generations of moviegoers revisiting Washington's less iconic films. As with lesser-known classics, all it takes is a well-timed drop from a popular streaming service for an old movie to explode, and honestly, Washington trying to outrun a demonic serial killer is a plot point that really should to sell

'Fallen' builds on the dark crime thriller boom caused by 'Se7en', but stands out as much more than a copycat

David Fincher's Se7en sent shivers down the spine of the box office in 1995, with many studios scrambling to capitalize on the public's taste for a macabre and disturbing detective thriller. This led to many films in the late 1990s that essentially felt like spin-offs of Fincher's cryptic crime film. Washington died famous Se7enand has publicly expressed his regret for the decision. fallen it is the first of a few films that Washington seemed to make an effort to atone for the transmission of Fincher's film. This list also includes The bone collector, released the following year. This co-star Angelina Jolie, and follows Washington as a detective chasing a killer who leaves clues at every crime scene. A film that has been in development hell since the 90s and is finally coming out in 2021 also belongs to the same wheelhouse: The Little Thingsthat sees Washington and Rami Malek chasing another serial killer.

None of these films are able to live up to it Se7enBut fallen easily works the best of Washington's three films in this lane. The supernatural elements, great characters supported by performances of John Goodman i Donald Sutherlandand the wild turns the narrative takes fallen a film that stands out among many such crime thrillers of the 1990s.

'Fallen Finale' Draws More Comparisons to 'Se7en'

The film's bleak ending offers another comparison Se7en, where unexpected twists in the story lead to moments of triumph quickly undermined by the prevailing evil in one way or another. Washington is usually a capable hero, able to resolve any conflict a film's plot throws at him. However, in fallen, his character's sharp detective work can only go so far as he gets deeper into a hunt against evil incarnate. Comparisons with Se7en they are justified for the times, but compared to a large number of crime thrillers that came out in the mid-to-late 1990s, it is a disservice to write fallen off as nothing more than a derivative. The film's setup is certainly familiar, but each subsequent narrative twist raises the stakes and turns the story into something much bolder and more ambitious than a simple rehash of another film.

While Washington has yet to return to a straightforward horror film, his one foray into the genre proved that he can bring his gravitas and charisma to any kind of film effortlessly. fallen deserves as much hype as the beloved action movies Washington headlined over the past few decades, and delivers a great performance from her in a film unlike anything she's done before. fallen makes big changes that deserve its cult status and allows Washington to attempt a new genre in his extensive filmography.

fallen is currently available to rent or buy on Prime Video in the US

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