Special Investigator: Just another dusty 30s crime flick?

Is this thing worth your afternoon?

If you like old-school crime stories where the hero is just a guy with a grudge, you’ll probably have a decent time with Special Investigator. It’s got that snappy, no-nonsense pacing from the 30s that makes modern movies feel like they’re wading through molasses. If you hate black-and-white talkies or need your action to be CGI-heavy, you’re gonna be bored stiff.

Richard Dix plays the lawyer-turned-investigator with this weird, permanent squint, like he’s trying to read a menu from across the room. He isn't trying to win an Oscar; he’s just trying to get through the scene without tripping over the props. It works.

The Nevada desert setting is mostly just a bunch of rocks and dust, but it gives the movie a grimy, isolated feeling. There’s a specific scene in a shack that made me think of the gritty atmosphere in —if you’ve seen it, you know what I mean. The shadows in these old films just hit different, don't they?

Wait, why is he doing that?

The plot moves fast, maybe a little too fast. One minute Bill is practicing law, and the next he’s basically John Wick with a fedora. There isn't much time for character development, but honestly, who cares? I didn't sign up for a therapy session.

J. Carrol Naish pops up as one of the bad guys, and he’s clearly having the most fun out of everyone. He’s got this nervous energy that makes you wonder if he’s going to turn on his own team at any second. It’s a nice bit of chaos in an otherwise pretty standard revenge tale.

• The dialogue is sharp enough to cut yourself on.
• Some of the extras look like they wandered in from the set of a totally different movie and just decided to stay.
• The sound quality on the desert wind scenes is… well, let's just say it sounds like someone crinkling a bag of chips near the mic. 🍿

There’s this one moment where they’re plotting a heist and the lighting gets weirdly dramatic for no reason. It’s totally unnecessary and completely perfect. I love it when movies just stop caring about logic and go for the vibe instead.

Is it a masterpiece? Nah. Is it better than sitting through some overblown modern blockbuster? Absolutely. It’s a quick, punchy flick that knows when to pack it up and go home.