Summary
AlthoughDenzel Washingtonhas enjoyed many major hits in his lengthy screen career, one of the star’s most underrated movies was a flop from 26 years ago. Denzel Washington might be one of the most acclaimed actors of the last few decades, but his box office record is less pristine than viewers might assume. The star’s very first movie, the 1981 comedyCarbon Copy, underperformed upon release, as didDenzel Washington’s Spike Lee collaborationHe Got Gamein 1997. A string of critical and commercial hits ensured that these wobbles didn’t do any lasting damage to Washington’s career.
Some ofWashington’s flops have been reappraised by critics in the years since their original release.1995’s noir mysteryDevil In A Blue Dressfailed to recoup its budget upon release, but the murky thriller is now seen as a forgotten classic. Similarly, although 2003’sOut of Timewas nowhere near as successful as the following year’sMan On Fire, its reception has improved in the years since its release. The high-concept thriller never garnered as much acclaim asWashington’s Tony Scott collaboration, but a re-watch proves that it has the same slick style as Scott’s efforts.
Fallen Is Denzel Washington’s Most Underrated Movie
The Psychological Thriller Fuses Supernatural Horror With Murder Mystery
However,none of these movies can boast the title of Denzel Washington’s most underrated movie.That honor goes to 1998’s largely forgotten supernatural thrillerFallen.Fallenfollows the story of Detective John Hobbes, a cop who is disturbed to discover a series of murders that fit the modus operandi of a serial killer whose execution Hobbes recently witnessed.Fallen’s supporting cast includes John Goodman, James Gandolfini, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, and Elias Koteas, and the movie makes the most of this starry lineup with a twisty story that delves further into supernatural horror as the plot progresses.
Fallen’s combination of police procedural and demonic horror makes it Washington’s most underrated movie, with the thriller playing out like an unholy fusion ofSinisterandSilence of the Lambs.Washington has played many copsand, for its opening half,Fallenfeels like an unusually spooky serial killer thriller with a few supernatural flourishes akin toTrue Detectiveseason 1. It is only when the movie reveals its big twist that things take a turn for the outright paranormal and by then, the atmosphere and tension are so effective thatFallen’s big swing never feels silly or over-the-top.
Why Fallen Should Have Been A Huge Hit
The 1998 Horror Thriller Combined Two Major 90s Box Office Trends
Fallencombined two trends that were massive box office winners in the ‘90s, namely supernatural horror (likeEnd of DaysandStigmata) and serial killer thrillers (such asSilence of the Lambs,Se7en, andCopycat).
By rights,Fallenshould have been a huge success at the box officewhen the thriller arrived in January 1998.Fallencombined two trends that were massive box office winners in the ‘90s, namely supernatural horror (likeEnd of DaysandStigmata) and serial killer thrillers (such asSilence of the Lambs,Se7en, andCopycat). It doesn’t hurt thatFallenis also a great movie with a killer twist ending, unlike many of the examples mentioned above, so word of mouth should have helped its box office numbers after opening weekend. However, this wasn’t destined to be.
Despite the success of director Gregory Hoblit’s earlier thrillerPrimal Fear,Fallenwas a commercial and critical failure.The $46 million movie made only $25 million on its releaseand reviewers weren’t kind to the movie. Even thoughFallenis one of Denzel Washington’s best movies,Varietycalled the thriller “A convoluted picture” and “Only intermittently suspenseful,” whileThe New York TimesdismissedFallenas “Seriously far-fetched.” This may have been due toFallen’s reviewers expecting a more straightforward, traditional police procedural, but Hoblit’s movie does hint at the true nature of its villain from the opening scene.
Denzel Washington’s Fallen Has Become A Cult-Favorite Since Its Original Release
Time Has Been Kind To The Twisty Horror Thriller Hybrid
Luckily forFallen, time was on the movie’s side and the years after its releasehave seen the supernatural thriller reappraised as a lost gem from Washington’s extensive back catalog. It doesn’t hurt that later movies like 2014’sDeliver Us From Eviland 2001’sFrailtyrevisitedFallen’s combination of mystery thriller tropes and supernatural horror elements, proving that the flop was ahead of its time. However, it was Washington’s central turn that kept viewers coming back to the underrated movie over the years.
WhileDenzel Washington’s box office record is mixed, the actor reliably puts in memorable performances.Fallensees Washington balance taciturn investigation with increasing incredulity and, eventually, outright terror when he discovers the terrible truth. It’s a role that could have been an overly familiar cliché in the hands of a lesser actor,but the star makesFallen’s outlandish story work with an engaging, grounded central turn.As a result,Fallenstill deserves to be mentioned amongDenzel Washington’s best movies despite its box office struggles.
