I know Kiss Me Deadly is a 1955 classic. And yet, weird. I suppose I should say “innovative.” But no, some of it is just weird. Weird beyond the suspension of disbelief. These weird things kept pulling me out of the snappy dialogue and interesting characters and gorgeous sets.
Weird Opening Credits. They roll the wrong way, scrolling from the top to the bottom. Think the intro to Star Wars only with credits.
Weird Chloris Leachman: In her first film role, Chloris Leachman rocks the short hair. I’ve only ever seen her in long hair roles: Phyllis Lindstrom, Frau Blucher. It’s hard to identify her.
Weird Reactions to Mike Hammer’s lack of sex appeal. So the filmmakers have this anti-hero, Mike Hammer, who is an ass, and you can tell the filmmakers are men because at least two women are introduced to Mike and immediately kiss him. (Not counting sympathetic whore/assistant Velda.)
Weird plot twist that was not in the book: Introducing a Light Bulb in its first role as The Threat of Nuclear War. I spent the conclusion saying, “I don’t think that’s how radiation works.”
Weird Ending. So [BIG SPOILER], the evil woman opens the box that contains the light bulb, and the radiation is released, and in the restored ending Mike Hammer and Velda stagger away to the beach, suggesting they survive. Which of course they don’t, given that Mike had a radiation burn a few hours before, and Velda’s going to die of cancer in a month, at best, if she everyone in LA isn’t dead already. THE END.
