The black and white noir film featuring Welles and Heston is technically impressive, though it didn't particularly engage me as a movie to watch. Set along the Texas border, the story follows a Mexican detective (Charlton Heston) who helps American investigators look into the murder of an American official. He quickly discovers that the imposing and somewhat disheveled Sheriff (Orson Welles) is not what he seems, with a habit of setting people up. Janet Leigh appears as the detective's newlywed wife, an American citizen. “Touch of Evil” (1958), written and directed by Welles—apparently inspired by a book—has earned a significant reputation as a cult classic noir film. There are indeed some intriguing technical aspects to appreciate, such as the camera work, lighting, and remarkable extended shots – for instance, the opening scene. The cast is also noteworthy, including Leigh who looks beautiful, along with Joanna Moore, Marlene Dietrich, Joi Lansing, and even a brief appearance by Zsa Zsa Gabor. However, I mostly found it to be overly talkative, almost dreamlike, and noticeably artificial, with a story that didn’t hold my attention and some questionable performances. The portrayal of the Mexican characters felt stereotypical, and Dennis Weaver's character, the "night man," was like something out of Shakespeare played by a lunatic. Watching this film feels like stepping into Welles’ mind while under the influence of hallucinogens. Despite its flaws, there is still quite a bit to consider in this movie, which might explain why it has developed such a following. Still, I don't feel compelled to revisit it; there are many other more captivating black and white dramas from that time period with strong casts, like “The Misfits” (1963). I watched the extended version, referred to as the "director’s cut," which clocks in at around 110 minutes, compared to the original studio-edited version of 93 minutes. It's interesting to note that the film wasn’t shot anywhere near the border—not even close to the Texas border—but rather in Venice, Los Angeles. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB