

One night, in a Los Angeles hospital, Dr. Flax attends to a seriously injured man who, apparently crazed, whispers mysterious and disconcerting words in French into her ear.
Direction
McTiernan's debut before Die Hard—ambitious, messy, fascinating
Score
Bill Conti's saxophone haunts every alley like a horny ghost
Cinematography
LA at night never looked this sweaty and mysterious

Director
John McTiernan
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was John McTiernan's first feature—he'd later perfect the 'trapped with bad guys' formula in Die Hard and Predator.
The film bombed because audiences expected slasher horror and got French philosophy with mohawks. Its cult status grew from pure confusion.