DETOUR

Cinemavixion Review

Edgar G. Ulmer's "Detour" is a masterclass in low-budget noir, a chilling descent into fate and desperation that remains remarkably potent decades after its 1945 release. The film masterfully employs flashback to recount the ill-fated journey of Al Roberts, a pianist whose attempt to reunite with his girlfriend spirals into a vortex of mistaken identity, blackmail, and murder. Tom Neal delivers a compelling performance as Roberts, a man increasingly trapped by his own choices and the cruel hand of fate, while Ann Savage is unforgettable as the venomous femme fatale. Ulmer's economical direction, coupled with the film's tight narrative and pervasive sense of doom, creates an atmosphere that is both claustrophobic and utterly captivating. Despite its humble origins, "Detour" has rightfully earned its place as a cult classic and a quintessential example of film noir, lauded for its raw intensity and unflinching portrayal of a man's unraveling.