Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- cynical
- smoky
- seductive
- late night thriller viewing
- neo-noir double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the cast and opening promising but judged the direction and increasingly convoluted plot uneven and self-parodic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Harry Barber is repeatedly set up through the staged kidnapping and must prove the truth before returning to prison.
The Florida setting and polished 1990s production frame classic noir intrigue without relying on a historical period.
The kidnapping scam expands into multiple levels of manipulation involving Harry, the Malroux family, and the police.
Harry's desire for payback after losing two years on a false conviction drives his decision to accept the kidnapping scheme.
Films like Palmetto, and why
Body Heat
Shared neo-noir atmosphere, femme fatale dynamics, criminal deception, and a protagonist framed by an elaborate scheme.
The Last Seduction
Shared noir fatalism, seductive criminal plotting, double-crosses, and morally compromised characters.
The Grifters
Shared mystery-driven crime narrative, shifting loyalties, scams, and a protagonist struggling to expose a conspiracy.
The Hot Spot
Shared modern noir style, entrapment themes, criminal manipulation, and darkly comic tension.
Movie Details
- Director
- Volker Schlöndorff
- Release Date
- 1998-02-20
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (148)
Cast
- Woody Harrelson
- Gina Gershon
- Elisabeth Shue
- Rolf Hoppe
- Michael Rapaport
- Chloë Sevigny
- Tom Wright
- Marc Macaulay
- Joe Hickey
- Ralph Wilcox
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Palmetto about?
- A wrongfully imprisoned writer is pulled into a staged kidnapping that turns into a seductive maze of noir betrayals.
- What is Palmetto like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Palmetto as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Palmetto violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Palmetto as mild.
- What did critics think of Palmetto?
- Critics generally found the cast and opening promising but judged the direction and increasingly convoluted plot uneven and self-parodic.
- Which films are like Palmetto?
- Films with a similar feel include Body Heat, The Last Seduction, The Grifters, and The Hot Spot.
- How long is Palmetto?
- Palmetto runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Palmetto?
- In United States, Palmetto is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
