The Hot Spot
The Hot Spot

The Hot Spot

1990Movie130 minEnglish

Upon arriving to a small town, a drifter quickly gets into trouble with the local authorities — and the local women — after he robs a bank.

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Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes54%
Metacritic60/100
Google Users75%
Director: Dennis HopperGenres: Neo-noir, Thriller, Crime

Plot Summary

A drifter named Harry Madox arrives in a small Texas town during a sweltering summer heatwave and quickly becomes entangled with the local femme fatale, Dolly Harshaw, and her older, wealthy husband. As Harry manipulates his way into their lives, he becomes the prime suspect in a bank robbery, setting off a dangerous chain of events fueled by lust, greed, and betrayal.

Critical Reception

The Hot Spot received mixed reviews from critics upon its release. While some praised its stylish neo-noir atmosphere, steamy performances, and Dennis Hopper's direction, others found the plot convoluted and the characters underdeveloped. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating its erotic tension and suspense, while others found it slow-paced or overly predictable.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its atmospheric neo-noir style and sensual tension.
  • Criticized for a convoluted plot and lack of character depth.
  • Don Johnson's performance as the anti-hero was a notable element.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's steamy and suspenseful atmosphere, with many enjoying the erotic thriller elements and Don Johnson's portrayal of the manipulative protagonist. However, some viewers found the pacing to be too slow and the storyline occasionally hard to follow, leading to a mixed overall impression.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location in Taylor, Texas, and the oppressive heat during filming significantly contributed to the movie's suffocating atmosphere, with the cast and crew reportedly struggling with the extreme temperatures.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

**_An amoral drifter stuck between a naïve teen and an adulteress in Texas_** An unprincipled man in his mid-30s (Don Johnson) rolls into a small town in the greater Austin area wherein he uses his mojo to land a job as a used car sales...
John Chard

John Chard

If you fall out of bed again the cockroaches are gonna start talking. The Hot Spot is directed by Dennis Hopper and adapted to screenplay from the Charles Williams novel, "Hell Hath No Fury", by Nona Tyson and Charles Williams. It stars ...