A pulpy, atmospheric supernatural crime thriller with a strong central performance and a memorably nasty premise. It’s more interesting for its mood, concept, and late-’90s procedural energy than for airtight plotting, but that blend gives it a cult appeal.
14% ★☆☆☆☆ (102,783)
Fallen
Where to watch: Netflix
Movie · Crime · Drama · R
1998 · 2h 4m · ★ 14% (102.8K)
Detective John Hobbes is searching for a criminal he's already met... already caught... and already killed.
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland
Overview
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.
Director
Gregory Hoblit
Production
Turner Pictures, Atlas Entertainment
Cast
Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Gabriel Casseus, Robert Joy, Aida Turturro, Michael J. Pagan, Frank Medrano, Ronn Munro, Cynthia Hayden, Ray Xifo, Tony Michael Donnelly, Tara Carnes, Reno Wilson, Wendy Cutler, Jeff Tanner, Jerry Walsh
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A pulpy, atmospheric supernatural crime thriller with a strong central performance and a memorably nasty premise. It’s more interesting for its mood, concept, and late-’90s procedural energy than for airtight plotting, but that blend gives it a cult appeal.
Best for
fans of supernatural thrillers
viewers who like detective procedurals with a horror edge
people seeking a moody late-1990s studio thriller
Denzel Washington completists
Skip if
you want a tightly engineered mystery
you dislike supernatural explanations in crime stories
you prefer restrained, realistic thrillers
you need consistently fresh twists rather than genre comfort food
Overview
Fallen is the kind of movie that survives on vibe, premise, and star power. It takes a familiar homicide-investigation setup and tilts it into occult territory, letting the procedural mechanics play against a creeping sense of dread. The result is uneven, but often compelling, especially when the film leans into its grimy atmosphere and the friction between skepticism and the impossible.
Worth noting
Denzel Washington gives the movie its backbone, grounding the escalating weirdness with a steady, worn-in authority. Around him, the supporting cast helps sell the lived-in cop-movie texture, which makes the supernatural turns feel even stranger. The film’s biggest strength is that it knows how to be watchable even when it’s not especially elegant.
Bottom line
It’s not a masterpiece of plotting, and some viewers will find the concept stretches thin before the finish. But as a late-’90s studio thriller with a sinister hook and a memorable ending, it has enough personality to justify the ride. If you like your crime movies with a demonic aftertaste, this one lands.
Top Letterboxd reviews
DirkH (3.5★) · 438 likes
Have you also got one of these? One of these films that isn't exceptional? Isn't groundbreaking? One that doesn't break the mold? But whenever you stumble upon it, you just have to watch it? And that just makes it rather special? Yeah I know you do. P.S. That language that Kotseas is speaking in the beginning of the film? That language he says is Dutch? Nope. In no way imaginable.
Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine (3.5★) · 260 likes
Starring: King Kong Ain’t Got Sh!t On Denzel In general, stories that combine the supernatural with a detective or crime procedural format work exceptionally well. Even if there are excellent series and movies that explore both genres now, there is something endearing and enjoyable about the movies of the 1990s that make them stand out. The movie employs a lot of the tropes of the genre, but it manages to be enjoyable throughout thanks to a few unique spins on… more
Jay Cheel · 245 likes
DENZAZAZEL
F3lixL3g1ons (4★) · 241 likes
When serial killings continue after the murderer dies in the gas chamber, a homicide detective faces an enemy who will test him as never before. Hard to remember a time when we weren't concerned with Hollywood's end-stage dementia. Fallen is an awesome throwback to when mainstream cinema was a little more spirited: One of those feel-good retro-horrors from hazy '90s video-store-days. A string to truly memorable moments, such as the legendary intro, the twisted ending and a fallen angel murmuring… more
sydney (3.5★) · 227 likes
if there's such a thing as "wholesome big dick energy", denzel washington, john goodman, and james gandolfini sitting around drinking beers is it. plus donald sutherland, cozy fall colors & fashions, a stupid supernatural plot, and some genuinely moving moments of brotherly bonding - a perfect feeling of snuggling up with a worn out mass market paperback on the first cold weekend of the season.
A classic of supernatural evil encroaching on the everyday world, with a similar sense of doom and inevitability.
Themes
supernatural evil, serial murder investigation, detective procedural, good versus evil, possession and identity, moral corruption, urban dread, fate and inevitability
Topics
supernatural thriller, crime procedural, occult horror, 1990s thriller, mood-driven, serial killer, demonic possession, urban noir, cat-and-mouse, dark atmosphere