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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. White Heat remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly? Probably not. Unless you have a very specific itch for pre-code melodramas where everyone is constantly acting like they're in a stage play from 1890, you can skip this one. It's the kind of movie that people who love historical oddities might enjoy, but it’s a slog for anyone just looking for a good story.
If you prefer your movies to be grounded, skip this. It feels like the writers were just throwing darts at a board of 'troubled romance' tropes. Talk about heavy-handed.
The whole thing is built on this weird, colonial-era tension that feels gross by today's standards. David Newell plays Hawkes with this look of constant, sweaty confusion, like he just realized he left the oven on back home. The way he flips between his 'moral' stance and his actual behavior is meant to be character depth, but it mostly just feels like the script didn't know what it wanted him to be.
Then there's the beach scene. You know the one. It’s filmed in that stiff, early-talkie way where nobody actually moves like a human being. It’s supposed to be seductive, I guess? Instead, it’s just awkward.
The transition when the wife, Lucille, arrives is just jarring. Virginia Cherrill is clearly out of her element, looking bored out of her mind—which, to be fair, is what her character is supposed to be doing. But the boredom bleeds into the actual performance. It’s like she’s waiting for the bus to take her back to a better movie.
I found myself comparing this to the slicker, more cynical tone of something like The Last of Mrs. Cheyney. That film actually knows how to handle social climbing and secrets. White Heat just yells them at you.
The ending—that fire scene—is the only time the movie actually wakes up. It’s chaotic in a way that feels unintentional, like the production crew was genuinely worried about the flames. It’s not exactly Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler in terms of craft, but for ten minutes, it at least feels like something is actually happening.
It’s a strange little relic. You can watch it for the sheer audacity of how it handles its themes, but don't expect to walk away thinking about it the next day. It’s just... there. Like a piece of furniture you meant to throw out three years ago. 🥥🔥
IMDb 5.8
1933
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