Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the execution the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese's style.
Fallen (1998) distinguishes itself with a genuinely inventive supernatural premise — a demonic spirit named Azazel that jumps between human hosts through touch, turning a serial killer procedural into a metaphysical cat-and-mouse thriller grounded in biblical lore. This concept is distinctive enough to earn high Novelty marks. Denzel Washington anchors the film with his reliable professionalism, and John Goodman provides solid support, though the ensemble is not particularly stretched. The cinematography is competent neo-noir with moody Philadelphia atmosphere but doesn't transcend its genre visuals. The plot is engaging and cleverly constructed around its central gimmick, though it strains credibility in places and leans on procedural conventions. The ending is memorable and genuinely dark — committing to a bleak resolution — but its execution is a bit muddled and the final twist, while bold, doesn't fully pay off the buildup. Overall a well-above-average genre film that earns its cult reputation primarily through conceptual originality.