Watch Detour

Detour is a 1945 film noir directed by legendary filmmaker Edgar G. Ulmer. The movie stars Tom Neal as Al Roberts, a pianist who hitchhikes from New York City to Los Angeles to be with his girlfriend, Sue. Along the way, he takes a ride with a man named Charles Haskell (Edmund MacDonald), who dies suddenly, leaving Roberts in a difficult situation. Roberts decides to hide Haskell's body and assume his identity so that he can continue on to Los Angeles without detection. However, things take a dark turn when he picks up a young woman named Vera (Ann Savage), who seems to know more about Haskell than she's letting on. Roberts begins to fear for his life as Vera becomes more aggressive and manipulative, leading him down a dangerous path. The movie is notable for its gritty, low-budget style and its harsh portrayal of human nature. Roberts is a flawed protagonist who makes questionable decisions, and Savage's Vera is a true femme fatale, using her beauty and cunning to get what she wants. Claudia Drake also appears in the movie as Sue, Roberts' girlfriend who he left behind in New York. Detour has been praised for its expressionistic cinematography, which uses shadow and light to create a sense of dread and unease. Ulmer famously shot the film in just six days on a shoestring budget, yet manages to create a haunting and memorable piece of cinema. The film's themes of fate, desperation, and human frailty have made it a classic of the film noir genre, and it has been studied and analyzed by film scholars and critics for decades. Detour has also influenced many other films, particularly those that explore the darker aspects of human nature. Overall, Detour is a must-see for anyone interested in noir cinema or classic Hollywood filmmaking. Its bleak and unsettling mood, combined with its strong performances and inventive style, make it an unforgettable viewing experience.