Director: Abel Ferrara
Writer: Nicholas St. John
Stars: Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Victor Argo

This review is part of the feature:

The 33 Gangster Films You Can’t Refuse

In discussions about the greatest gangster films, this dark pearl is never mentioned. It should. Christopher Walken delivers a chilling central performance as the psychotic Frank White and Laurence Fishburne is mesmerizing as his loose cannon sidekick Jimmy Jump.

After being released from jail, White quickly takes out his competitors and becomes the main drug kingpin of New York City. He uses the proceeds to build a hospital for the poor. Meanwhile, a frustrated police team desperately wants to nail him even if it means illegally killing themselves.

Director Abel Ferrara and screenwriter Nicholas St. John obviously enjoy upsetting their audience with this moral ambiguity. The offputting violence and trashy depiction of New York’s underworld add to the discomfort. As does the vampire-film inspired cinematography.

The cast of King of New York is truly impressive and features many names of actors who would become big stars in the nineties, including David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Buscemi and Theresa Randle.

For all its darkness, it is no surprise this exploitation movie was not well received back in 1990. Time for a re-evaluation I would say. Whenever great gangster films are discussed, King of New York must be IN.