Reservoir Dogs
1992 · Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Original language: English
- crime
- thriller
The story
A botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors -- veteran Mr. White, newcomer Mr. Orange, psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde, bickering weasel Mr. Pink and Nice Guy Eddie -- unravel.
What it’s like
Hard, saturated contrast throughout: the warehouse is a bare, cold space lit by harsh overhead fluorescents and the grey wash of daylight through high windows, while the restaurant scenes glow with warm, rich red and brown tones. The camera mostly stays put, with long locked-off takes and talky two-shots that let tension build through the frame rather than through cutting. Sound is sparse and sharp: diegetic chatter, the clink of coffee cups, and the sudden blank silence before something ugly happens, with a handful of retro pop tracks played against scenes of brutality. Dread is constant and tends to be psychological, but the violence is explicit, graphic and abrupt, including a notorious torture sequence with an ear that lands hard and a shootout with real bloodshed. The vibe is cold, mordant and combustible, with a sardonic, Mexican-standoff tension that suits a late-night, lights-low viewing with nothing soft in the mix. It is aimed at people who like sharp, profane dialogue, ensemble tension and crime films that don't flinch from the consequences of violence. Not gentle, not a background watch.
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