Bad Lieutenant

Plot Summary

In Abel Ferraras classic crime drama Bad Lieutenant (1992), we follow the story of a New York City police detective who has lost his moral compass. Detective Lieutenant Terence McDonagh (played by Harvey Keitel) is a drug addict and gambler, whose reckless behavior is as dangerous as the criminals hes trying to take down. But beneath the surface of his reckless ways lies a strong sense of justice that is put to the test when he has to investigate the brutality of a local Catholic school. What will happen to McDonagh as he navigates his way through a moral minefield? Will he be able to redeem himself or will his inner demons prove to be his downfall?

Impact on the Crime Genre

The crime genre has been greatly impacted by the 1992 movie Bad Lieutenant. What was once a genre that revolved around the grittiness of street crime and the good cop fighting for justice has been turned on its head by this film. By introducing the morally ambiguous bad cop as the main character, viewers were forced to question the traditional black and white morality that typically defines the crime genre.

But Bad Lieutenant wasnt only revolutionary in its subversion of the classic crime genre; it also highlighted the complexities of crime and the reality of moral gray areas. It made the viewer take a closer look at the characters, their motivations, and the consequences of their actions. In doing so, it provided a deeper understanding of the human experience and the crime genre.