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6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Hot Spot remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for old-school, low-stakes crime stories that don't care about making their protagonist likable. If you want a serious, gritty procedural, keep scrolling. You will probably hate this if you need characters to act like actual human beings rather than plot devices.
The whole premise is just wildly irresponsible. A reporter, who really should know better, decides his obnoxious brother-in-law is the perfect pawn to flush out a killer. It’s the kind of plan that only makes sense if you’ve had three cups of coffee and zero sleep.
Watching the brother-in-law stumble through a fake confession is… well, it’s painful. You can practically see him sweating through his shirt in every frame. Isabel Withers is in this, and she’s doing a lot of heavy lifting while everyone else just runs around acting frantic. 😅
It’s nowhere near as polished as something like Angoisse, but it’s not trying to be. It’s just a scrappy, weird little movie. It’s more like a rough sketch than a finished painting.
I found myself zoning out during the long, exposition-heavy middle bit. Then, out of nowhere, the pace picks up for about three minutes before falling apart again. It’s a bit of a bumpy ride, honestly.
I’m reminded of how much better some of these old crime capers handle tension compared to modern stuff. Even when this movie is failing, it feels alive. It isn't trying to be deep. It’s just trying to fill the hour.
Maybe skip it if you are in a bad mood. It might just annoy you. But if you want to see a movie that doesn't have a single pretentious bone in its body, go for it. Just don't ask too many questions about the plot holes. There are plenty of them. 🕵️♂️