Allen Baron’s superb slice of neo-noir is possibly one of the darkest and bleakest films ever made, making it perfect for this Christmas list.
Baron’s film follows several days in the life of a New York hitman, Frankie Bono (Allen Baron), whose latest job is the assassination of a mobster called Troiano over the Christmas holidays. From this description, you may expect an action-packed crime thriller filled with violence and shootouts, but Blast of Silence is an existential drama.
Rather than focusing on the assassination, Baron’s movie portrays the internal world of an antisocial hitman as he aimlessly wanders through the festive glow of New York City, unable to connect with anyone. Here, his wanderings are clear in purpose while secretive in nature, from purchasing a new gun from a dealer to a Christmas party, where he meets an old flame, whom he later attempts to sexually assault.
Ironically, the Christmas backdrop of Blast of Silence — its celebrations, gifts, trees, and Santa — only makes Frankie’s journey even starker and lonelier. The festive cheer alienates him as he passes those celebrating, his aimless hatred and emptiness exposed by Lionel Stander’s brilliant narration —one of the best in noir —as we can almost taste the cigarette ash and alcohol on his breath. Baron’s film is a stunning example of modernist filmmaking, with a refreshingly bold visual style set against authentic New York City location shots. Meanwhile, its narrative approach focuses on the main character’s psyche rather than the events surrounding him, as we enter his closed, isolated world, placing Blast of Silence among the forerunners of French New Wave cinema while inspiring many of the gritty New York thrillers of the 1970s.
Although the story is about as far from the classic festive mood as possible, Baron’s rediscovered classic explores traditional themes of festive isolation. Here, the holidays almost feel like a knife in Frankie’s heart as he silently considers what could have been and what is.
In many ways, the result is reminiscent of Albert Camus’s The Stranger in its worldview. Only recently rediscovered by many after disappearing into the mists of time, Blast of Silence holds a unique place in cinema history through its unforgettable visuals and complex character study. While it may not be a cheery Christmas movie, it is a landmark in modern cinema that deserves your full attention.
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