Quentin Tarantino's violent, bloody and nasty crime thriller commands attention. Whether you like it or not and whatever its shortcomings, it was an impressive debut for the director. It's the story of a bank heist that despite sound planning goes horribly wrong - and the gang suspects one of their number is an informant. Much of the action is shot inside an abandoned warehouse where a hostage cop is tortured (the famous ear-slashing scene) and the injured baddies argue and bleed profusely. There are strong performances from Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth and veteran Lawrence Tierney, and some sharp (and profane) dialogue. Tarantino draws on a lifetime of watching movies and fellow buffs will spot some of his influences. Although undeniably a stylish and muscular movie, it's also a shallow one with a vicious edge to it.

©ipc tx. Film content from TVTimes