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China Moon
1994 99 min United States of America R 18+
★6.1
Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Director: John Bailey
Trailers
Description
Detective Kyle Bodine falls for Rachel Munro who is trapped in a violent marriage. After she shoots her husband, Kyle relucantly agrees to help hide the body, but his partner is showing an unusual flair for finding clues.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$3.04M
Worldwide:
$3.04M
Starring
Ed Harris
Actor
Madeleine Stowe
Actor
Charles Dance
Actor
Key opinion
China Moon is a competent neo-noir that successfully leans into genre tropes through strong performances and an evocative Florida-based atmosphere. While fans of the genre will appreciate its aesthetic and craftsmanship, the film ultimately falters due to a convoluted and polarizing conclusion.
| Acting | The lead performances from Harris, Stowe, and del Toro are strong and effectively anchor the film's character-driven narrative. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography masterfully utilizes the Florida setting, using rain and mist to cultivate a distinct, poetic neo-noir atmosphere. | |
| Ending | The finale is highly divisive; some viewers appreciate the twist-heavy structure, while others dismiss the resolution as forced and ridiculous. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are split, with some praising its original flourishes and procedural detail, while others view the overall story as conventional and derivative of classic noir. |