Sorcerer (1977)

Sorcerer (1977)

1977 PG 121 Minutes

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Four criminals from different parts of the globe, all hiding from their pasts in the same remote South American town, agree to risk their lives transporting gallons of unstable nitroglycerin across...

Overall Rating

4 / 10
Verdict: So-So

User Review

  • WHAT I LIKED: 'Sorcerer,' is certainly admirably directed by William Friedkin as it features some light political backdrop, two remarkably shot sequences, as well as some thoroughly brilliant editing.
    WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The problem is that it's very hard to get properly engaged in the events that play out because you just don't root for the characters. That's because they're not built with any dramatic intent, and are actually - by their very nature - rather unlikeable which is extra problematic in a narrative that relies solely on your investment in them as people. That in turn makes the slow pace and Friedkin's obsession with showing everything with minimal use of dialogue fairly annoying, and in the end the film proves that interesting directorial style isn't enough to make a great film on its own.
    VERDICT: An admirably-shot and edited film with characters you just don't care about, 'Sorcerer,' proves that there's a whole lot more to a great film than a spattering of interesting stylistic direction.