Bad Day at Black Rock

Bad Day at Black Rock is a western in terms of its setting and character, a post-war psychological drama due to the time period in which it is set, and a Cold War thriller thanks to the time when it was made. The film can be interpreted in various ways, but because of Sturges’s reputation (it’s true that he made his best films later) and Tracy (who, conversely, could already choose the films that he wanted to appear in), I don’t believe that it was supposed to be merely an atmospheric movie with captivatingly “framed” shots and without a political-social reach. Only the symbolic taking of responsibility by young people… 75% (03/17/2013)

I love films that are relatively short, straightforward, and focus on characters that are well-written and excellently acted. That is exactly the case with Bad Day at Black Rock. Additionally, the script is truly excellent, keeping you in suspense from the beginning and not letting you breathe until almost the very end, where you finally reach a resolution that doesn't always have to be the best. (12/20/2014)

A slow and tedious conversational drama that relies only on excellent actors and a bleak post-war rural setting where the inhabitants hide a shared secret. Unfortunately, it’s not very good at escalating the tension and the curiosity and to make us fear for the life of the protagonist (because the twist is very obvious and also, as a classic western, the hero is an almost untouchable god). Bonus points at least for the successful metaphor of the social divisions and mistrust of the time. (06/08/2019)