Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Graphic
- brooding
- paranoid
- oppressive
- late night noir viewing
- crime movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually atmospheric and ambitious but undermined by convoluted storytelling and uneven performances, with Mia Kirshner’s Elizabeth Short widely praised.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bucky’s investigation moves through powerful Los Angeles families, police authority, and lies surrounding Elizabeth Short’s murder.
The film combines 1940s Los Angeles, glamorous Hollywood imagery, corruption, sexual intrigue, and an oppressive crime atmosphere.
Lee becomes consumed by the Black Dahlia case while Bucky’s pursuit exposes increasingly disturbing hidden truths.
Madeleine Linscott resembles Elizabeth Short, creating a charged connection between the investigation and Bucky’s attraction.
Films like The Black Dahlia, and why
L.A. Confidential
shared neo-noir atmosphere, corrupt institutions, period Los Angeles setting, and intertwined police investigation
Chinatown
shared film noir fatalism, murder mystery structure, moral corruption, and psychologically troubled detectives
Mulholland Drive
shared stylized noir visuals, obsessive investigation, erotic intrigue, and labyrinthine criminal secrets
Movie Details
- Director
- Brian De Palma
- Release Date
- 2006-09-15
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (1250)
Cast
- Josh Hartnett
- Scarlett Johansson
- Aaron Eckhart
- Hilary Swank
- Mia Kirshner
- Mike Starr
- Fiona Shaw
- Patrick Fischler
- James Otis
- John Kavanagh
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 The Black Dahlia about?
- Two Los Angeles detectives descend into a glamorous maze of obsession, corruption, and murder while pursuing the killer of the Black Dahlia.
- What is The Black Dahlia like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Black Dahlia as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is The Black Dahlia violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Black Dahlia as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Black Dahlia?
- Critics broadly found the film visually atmospheric and ambitious but undermined by convoluted storytelling and uneven performances, with Mia Kirshner’s Elizabeth Short widely praised.
- Which films are like The Black Dahlia?
- Films with a similar feel include L.A. Confidential, Chinatown, and Mulholland Drive.
- How long is The Black Dahlia?
- The Black Dahlia runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Black Dahlia?
- In United States, The Black Dahlia is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
